Activity
Coconut Burfi
Can’t wait for the holidays to begin? Consider starting early this year by celebrating a festival beloved by Hindus and Jains across the world. Deepwali, or Diwali for short, is the Indian “Festival of Lights.” For five days, people the world over will celebrate by lighting earthen lamps, burning candles, and sending fireworks shooting up into the sky.
You don’t have to be Hindu or Jain to teach your children about the festival of Diwali. Stock up on mithai (Indian sweets), line your house with candles, and use the holiday as an excuse to talk to the people you love most in the world.
Diwali is also an official holiday in Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore and Fiji. Don’t forget to pull out the atlas and show your child the country of India and some other countries! Cooking with your kids is a wonderful way to introduce a new culture. Here’s a recipe for coconut burfi, a popular Indian sweet.