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This year, we created a Fun Dahi Handi craft as part of our Janmashtami activities. It’s super easy and can be made using potato stamping!
An A4 sheet is just the right size to create a pyramid with 3 or 4 levels, but you can always go bigger by using a larger sheet to make an even taller pyramid.
Get creative and have fun with it! Don’t forget to check out all the Janmashtami activities for kids we have at Little Ladoo—there are a lot of crafts and printable fun activities for kids!
What is Dahi Handi?
If you’re wondering what Dahi Handi is, it’s a fun and exciting competitive event celebrated in India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra.
This event is a key part of the larger Janmashtami festival, which celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna, a beloved Hindu god known for his playful and mischievous nature.
People hang a pot filled with curd, butter, or other treats high up in the air. Then, groups of adults try to form a human pyramid to reach and break the pot, just like Krishna and his friends did.
Forming the pyramid requires a lot of teamwork and balance. The Adults on the bottom have to be strong to support the others, while the ones on top need to be agile and brave to reach the pot.
The Story Behind Dahi Handi
According to the stories about Lord Krishna, when he was a child, he loved eating butter and yoghurt (dahi). But since he was so mischievous, he would sneak into neighbours’ homes to steal butter.
To stop him, people would hang pots of butter high up on the ceiling. But Krishna, being smart, would form a human pyramid with his friends to reach the pots and get the butter.
On Janmashtami, People recreate this event of Human pyramid formation.
Things you will need to make a Dahi Handi Craft
- Washable Paint
- Potato
- Thick paper
- Sharpie Marker in Brown and Black
Step-by-step directions to make Dahi Handi
Prepare the Potatoes: Take two small potatoes and cut one into a small circle for the head and the other into a long semicircle for the body.
Set Up the Paint: Pour paint into plastic plates for easy dipping. Use purple paint (or any bright colour of your choice) for the dress and black for the head. You’ll also need yellow and orange paint to create flowers above the Dahi Handi pot.
Stamp the Body: Dip the semicircle potato in purple paint and stamp it three times at the bottom of the paper, leaving small gaps between each stamp.
Then, stamp two more on the next level, leaving horizontal gaps. Finally, stamp one at the top.
Stamp the Head: Dip the circular potato in black paint and stamp it above each body to create the heads.
Draw the Rope and Dahi Pot: Use markers to draw the rope and Dahi pot at the top.
Add Flowers: Use your fingers dipped in yellow and orange paint to create flowers around the Dahi Handi pot.
Draw Arms and Legs: Finally, use the markers to draw arms and legs, making sure they appear to be standing on the shoulders of the figures below.
Let It Dry: Set aside the craft to dry.
This Dahi Handi craft is simple and perfect for kids. They’ll enjoy the creative process, especially when working together as a team.
Janmashtami is a great time to learn about this cultural event through this fun activity. Have a blast crafting!
Krishna Printable Activities for Kids
More Krishna Janmashtami ideas for kids
- Cut and Paste Krishna Craft: Making Krishna is so easy with our Template. Simply, print, Cut and Paste the pieces together to form a Divine Krishna!
- Printable Krishna Stories: We have compiled a list of 11 Popular Krishna stories in a Printable format for kids! Download them for free!
- Printable Krishna Crown: Make a Krishna Crown using a printable template. Children will love wearing it as part of their Krishna attire.
- Swing for Krishna: Create a Swing or Jhula for a Krishna idol. It’s easy; all you need are straws and a shoebox!
