Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world. It is a time for celebration, prayer, and the exchange of gifts and sweets. Here are some ideas for activities that you could plan for a Diwali celebration in the office:
- Decorate the office: String up colorful lights in the office to create a festive atmosphere. You could also hang up lanterns or paper lanterns for an added touch of elegance.
- Set up a rangoli: Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form in which colourful designs are created on the floor using powdered rice or sand. You could set up a rangoli in a common area of the office for employees to admire.
- Display traditional decorations: Consider setting out traditional Diwali decorations, such as diyas (small clay lamps), candles, and garlands made of flowers or marigold petals.
- Put up posters or banners: You could put up posters or banners with Diwali-themed messages or images to add to the festive atmosphere.
- Set up a display of sweets: Diwali is a time for exchanging sweets, so consider setting up a display of traditional Diwali sweets, such as ladoos, barfi, and halwa, for employees to enjoy.
- Rangoli Competition Set up a drawing competition where employees can create their own rangoli designs using coloured pens or markers.
- Diwali Cards: Exchange traditional Diwali cards with your colleagues wishing them joy and prosperity.
- Story Telling – Gather around and describe the stories of Hindu mythology.
- Diwali-themed word search: Create a word search puzzle with Diwali-related words and have employees compete to see who can find the most words in a set amount of time.
- Sweet hunt: Hide a variety of Diwali sweets around the office and create a scavenger hunt for employees to find them.
- Diwali-themed charades: Write down the names of traditional Diwali activities, such as lighting diyas or exchanging gifts, and divide employees into teams. Each team can then act out the activity written on the slip of paper and see if the other team can guess what it is.
- Diwali trivia: Create a list of questions about the history, significance, and traditions of Diwali and divide employees into teams. The team with the most correct answers wins.
- Diwali-themed karaoke: Set up a karaoke station with a list of Diwali-themed songs, such as “Jai Jai Diwali” or “Diwali Aayi Re,” and encourage employees to sing along and have fun.
- Diya decorating contest: Hold a contest for the best-decorated diyas (small clay lamps). Employees can bring in their own diyas or use ones provided by the office.
- Traditional Indian games: Consider organizing traditional Indian games, such as carrom or kabaddi, for employees to play and enjoy.
Remember to be respectful of cultural traditions and to be mindful of any dietary restrictions that your coworkers may have. With a little planning and creativity, you can celebrate Diwali in a meaningful and fun way in the office.