At-Home Anthro LIVE

Bring your natural curiosity and craftiness into FREE live learning sessions by Penn Museum educators. Every Tuesday, join these 30-minute sessions—perfect for kids in elementary to middle school—to dig deeper into world cultures, archaeology, and anthropology with demonstrations of hands-on projects you can try at home!

Famous for its firecrackers, gifts, scrumptious feasts, and stories of good triumphing over evil, Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most popular celebrations in India and across the world. Its name comes from the Sanskrit for “row of clay lamps,” and every home is aglow with oil-burning diyas (lamps) to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. Fireworks and other bright lights illuminate the night as people eat pastries and tell stories of old.

Make Diwali-themed crafts while hearing some of the ancient legends tied to the festival. Learn how Ram raised an army of monkeys and bears to march on the island of Lanka and defeat the demon king Ravana, and how Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, found a true devotee. Though these stories trace their origins to Hinduism, Diwali’s universal theme of hope triumphing over despair is celebrated by peoples of many cultures.

Recommended Materials: Paper and pencils, crayons, or markers.