TralaLight Up Handmade Joy
Your creative Diwali moment

Make Your Diyas Your Own

A calm, simple guide to turning your terracotta diyas into keepsakes you’ll love displaying year after year.

Before You Begin

Lay out your diyas, paints, paintbrush and decorative kundans on a protected, flat surface. Keep a cloth, a little water for cleaning your brush, and a small scrap of paper nearby.

Plain unpainted terracotta diya ready to be cleaned
1

Clean the Diyas

Gently wipe away excess dust from each terracotta diya with a dry, soft cloth. Make sure the surface is clean and dry before you begin painting. This helps the paint spread more evenly.

Tip: Brush dust away from the grooves and embossed details too. Avoid soaking the diyas.
Terracotta diya painted in one solid base colour
2

Apply Your Base Colour

Choose one acrylic colour as your base. Paint a thin, even coat over the diya, following its shape and details. Let it dry, then apply a second coat for a smoother, richer finish.

Tip: Thin coats usually look neater than one thick coat. Let the paint dry between coats.
Painted terracotta diya with a second colour added as highlights and designs
3

Add Highlights and Designs

Once the base is fully dry, use another colour to add dots, lines, petals, borders or small patterns. You can follow the diya’s embossed design or invent a pattern of your own.

Tip: Try your design on paper first. Small repeated dots and simple lines can look beautifully detailed.
Finished terracotta diya decorated with colourful designs, kundans and mirrors
4

Decorate with Kundans

When the paint is completely dry, place kundans or mirrors around the rim or in selected parts of your design. Arrange them before attaching them so you can decide on the pattern first.

Tip: Use a suitable craft adhesive if your embellishments are not self-adhesive. Adult supervision is recommended for younger children.
Friends sharing a creative diya painting activity
5

Let It Dry and Show It Off

Leave the finished diya on a flat surface until all paint and adhesive have dried fully. Your handmade piece is now ready to be displayed as a festive keepsake or gifted to someone special.

Tip: Handle decorated diyas gently so the embellishments stay in place.
Family creating Diwali decorations together
6

Light Up Your Celebration Safely

Once your diya is completely dry, your handmade creation is ready to add a beautiful, personal touch to your Diwali celebrations. Display it proudly, gift it to someone special, or enjoy the warm glow of a diya as part of your festive traditions.

A little care: To keep your colours and decorations looking beautiful, an LED tealight is a lovely option for your finished design. If you choose to use a real flame, make sure the diya and all materials used are suitable for it. For the best experience, place your diya on a stable, heat-resistant surface and enjoy your festive glow with care.
A little reminder: Acrylic paint and decorative materials are for craft use. Do not paint the inside surface that will directly contact an open flame or hot wax. Children should use the kit with adult supervision, especially around adhesives, small embellishments, and any flame.

Make It a Shared Memory

Invite your children, friends or family to paint together. Every diya can tell its own little story.

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