Celebrate Diwali
$7.00 – $15.00
This festive song for young singers describes activities that take place during the celebration of Diwali, including lighting diyas, opening gifts, feasting and watching fireworks.
The repetitious lyrics, simple melody and narrow vocal range make this an ideal song selection for young emerging singers in grades Kindergarten-grade 1 or vocal studio singers ages 8 and under.
This song should not replace traditional cultural music associated with Diwali. However, it provides reference to some of the traditions that are part of this holiday. Use the song to open discussion about special observances that take place in various cultures. Include it with meaningful narrations to focus on traditions celebrated by students in your school or vocal studio.
Listen to melody + accompaniment:
Download Includes:
- Vocal score
- Lead sheet
- Director/piano score
- Lyrics
- Accompaniment – with melody guide
- Accompaniment – piano
- Teaching Tips
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Celebrate Diwali
See background information for the song Celebrate Diwali
Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Celebrate Diwali.
Discussion
Discuss with students the traditions they observe for holidays or special occasions.
Are there any unique activities or traditions observed by the student’s family?
What are the student’s favourite parts of these traditions?
Invite students who celebrate Diwali to share some of the activities that are meaningful to them that are connected with this important part of their culture.
Read aloud the lyrics of Celebrate Diwali
- Discuss the four activities that are presented in the lyrics (one per verse).
- Do any of the students take part in these same kinds of activities even if they celebrate a different holiday that is not Diwali?
Add instruments
Add instruments to the performance of Celebrate Diwali.
Choose an instrument to play every time you sing the word celebrate.
Use a triangle, finger cymbal, vibraslap or other similar instrument.
Choose another word in the song. Add a different instrument to be played on this word.
Play the different instruments on one selected word per verse, or use a combination of all the different instruments playing all of the selected words. Make a musical decision regarding how you will add the instruments to your performance.
- Is it too busy to include all the instruments in every verse?
- What words do you want to accent by adding an instrument?
Be sure that the instruments do not detract from the most important part of the song – the singing!
Performance suggestion
Add scarves to the performance for visual interest.
Have students wave their scarves every time they sing, “Celebrate Diwali”.
Two scarf options:
- For the final verse have students gently throw their scarves into the air and let them fall to the ground (without interfering with their descent!) to simulate the fireworks.
- Divide the class into three groups. Have one group throw their scarves the first time “fireworks” is sung. The second group will wait until the second time “fireworks” is sung. The third group will throw their scarves on the final beat of the song.
The voice of experience when dealing with falling scarves. This works best if all students know that they are NOT to impede the falling scarves, and to let them lie where they fall. At the end of the song, a designated scarf collector can quickly manage the scattered scarves more safely than to have a scrambling group of children trying to accomplish that task!
I love celebrating holidays with my family. As a child, I have many memories that include large family gatherings, laughter, lots of food and great fun. Although each culture celebrates different events, be they religious, cultural or based on heritage, every culture shares this bond of gathering with loved ones to share meaningful traditions.
I was asked to assist with the creation of a concert program that represented a combination of celebrations and traditional observances across a variety of cultures. The songs I ended up creating are in no way to be deemed as “cultural” offerings. Rather they are a stepping stone providing context and some of the elements that are included in those cultural activities. The simple song I composed for Diwali was to provide an opportunity for young singers to sing about this celebration, learn more about it and present that information to an audience. Hopefully it will allow children to showcase their familiar traditions presented in the concert in which they are singing. It may even spark discussion about the songs that are sung in the homes and as part of true Diwali celebrations. I consider it a privilege to be part of the ongoing building of community offered to all of us through music.
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| License | Single User License, Classroom / Studio License, Treble Choir License |
|---|---|
| Context | |
| Topic | Celebrations, Community, Family, Holidays, Seasonal, Diwali, Heritage / Culture |
| Level | |
| Vocal Range | D4 – B4 |
| Voicing | |
| Duration | |
| Composer | Donna Rhodenizer |
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