How We Celebrate Durga Puja & Saraswati Puja with Little Ones

In Kolkata, Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja are more than festivals — they are a feeling. For little ones, these celebrations are a wonderful way to learn about culture, colours, music and togetherness. Here is how we celebrate them at Kidzee Survey Park, with simple Durga Puja activities for kids you can try at home too.

Why Festivals Matter in Preschool

• Children learn about their culture and traditions.
• Festivals build language — new words, songs and stories.
• Crafts and decorations build creativity and fine motor skills.
• Celebrating together teaches sharing, respect and belonging.
• Children learn to appreciate the festivals of friends from every background.

Durga Puja at Kidzee Survey Park

As Pujo approaches, our classrooms fill with colour. Here's what our little ones enjoy:

• A festive backdrop of Maa Durga, made with bright paper and art, where children pose for photos in traditional clothes.
• Traditional dress day — girls in saris and frocks, boys in kurta-pyjama or dhoti.
• Stories of Maa Durga told simply — about courage and good winning over evil.
• Dhunuchi-style dance and dhak beats — children dance to festive rhythms.
• Craft activities — paper masks, mini pandals, alpana patterns and colouring sheets.
• Bijoya greetings — children learn to greet elders and share sweets.

Saraswati Puja: The Festival of Learning

Saraswati Puja holds special meaning for a school. Maa Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music and art. At our centre, children dress in yellow and white, help decorate the puja space, and take part in the puja with their families.

Hate Khori: A Child's First Letters

For many Bengali families, Saraswati Puja is the day of Hate Khori — a child's first writing ceremony, when they write their first letters on a slate with chalk, guided by an elder or priest. It is a beautiful start to a lifetime of learning, and connects naturally with our foundational literacy journey.

Durga Puja Activities to Try at Home

1. Paper plate Durga mask — paint a paper plate and add big eyes and a crown.
2. Alpana drawing — draw simple patterns with white paint or rice paste.
3. Mini pandal from a shoebox — decorate with coloured paper and lights.
4. Dhak rhythm game — clap or drum along to dhak beats.
5. Pandal-hopping picture hunt — spot lions, lotuses and lamps while visiting pandals.

Find more ideas in 15 easy activities to do at home.

Keeping Little Ones Safe During Pujo

• Visit pandals at quieter times, like mornings.
• Put a card with your phone number in your child's pocket.
• Carry water and light snacks.
• Protect small ears from very loud sounds.
• Take breaks — crowds can be tiring for toddlers.

A Year Full of Celebrations

Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja are just two of many celebrations at Kidzee Survey Park. We also mark Naba Barsha, Rabindra Jayanti, Rath Yatra, Janmashtami, Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Holi, Independence Day and more — teaching children to celebrate every culture with joy. Read our earlier posts on festivals at Kidzee Survey Park.

What Children Learn From Festival Celebrations

Every festival at preschool is a learning opportunity, carefully planned by teachers:

• Language: Festival words — pandal, dhak, alpana, anjali, Bijoya — and stories behind each celebration.
• Art and fine motor skills: Making masks, painting alpana patterns, decorating lamps.
• Music and movement: Festival songs, dhak rhythms and folk dances.
• Social values: Sharing sweets, greeting elders, respecting traditions.
• Culture and identity: Pride in their heritage and curiosity about others'.
• Maths: Counting lamps, sorting flowers by colour, making patterns.

Explaining Festivals to Young Children

Young children understand festivals best through simple stories and experiences. A few tips:

• Keep stories short and positive. Focus on themes like courage, kindness and good winning over bad.
• Use pictures and objects. Show a small idol, a dhak or a diya and talk about it.
• Involve your child in preparations. Let them help clean, decorate or choose clothes.
• Talk about how others celebrate. Help children understand that friends may celebrate different festivals, and that's wonderful.

Celebrating Saraswati Puja at Home

If you celebrate Saraswati Puja at home, involve your child by letting them place their books and pencils near the goddess for blessings, wear yellow, help arrange flowers and fruits, and say a simple prayer. Explaining that Maa Saraswati is the goddess of learning helps children feel that learning is something special and joyful.

Making Memories

Take photos of your child in festive clothes each year — at school and at home. Looking back at them together later is a lovely way to talk about growing up and family traditions.

Love festive crafts? See more ideas in our post on art and craft for kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hate Khori?

It is a Bengali tradition where a child writes their first letters on Saraswati Puja, marking the start of formal learning.

Do children of all faiths take part in festivals?

Yes. We celebrate many festivals so every child learns about and respects different cultures.

What should my child wear for Durga Puja celebrations at school?

Comfortable traditional clothes. Teachers will share details before the event.

Are parents invited to Saraswati Puja?

Families are usually welcome. Check with your centre for details each year.

Celebrate With Us

Visit Kidzee Survey Park and see our festive classrooms. Call +91 90733-53199 or WhatsApp us.

Celebrate culture and learning at Kidzee Survey Park, B 232, Survey Park, Santoshpur. Call +91 90733-53199 to visit.