Shine Bright with Your First Diwali Mini Zine: A Keepsake of Light and Intention

Introduction

The Step-by-Step Diwali Mini Zine began as a small project to share the spirit of Diwali with my children’s classmates and neighbors. But after sharing it on social media and receiving positive engagement, I realized this little zine has the potential to make Diwali accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds and ages. Whether you’re a child, a parent, an educator, or simply curious, this Diwali mini zine invites you to celebrate Diwali in a hands-on, personal way.

But first - What is a Mini Zine?
A mini zine is a small, handmade booklet made from a single sheet of paper, folded into a compact, pocket-sized format. Zines (short for “magazines” or “fanzines”) have a rich cultural history as grassroots, DIY publications that share ideas, stories, and artwork in a personal, creative way. They’ve been used worldwide to express diverse perspectives, foster community, and give a voice to unique stories outside mainstream media.

A Mini Zine with a Mighty Message

This mini zine isn’t meant to replace the legends behind Diwali’s origins, nor is it intended to guide you through the diverse rituals of the festival. Instead, it’s a simple, creative way to connect with the festival’s essence—focusing on small five steps to honor Diwali, bring light into your life, and share it with others. If nothing else, you’ve used your hands to make something meaningful, reminding yourself that even the smallest light can brighten the darkness.

Let kids color outside the lines! The black outlines may not be thick enough, and some details are small for little hands, so let them color freely. Print one for yourself too, and color it however you like—don’t worry about staying inside the lines. Enjoy the process. The zine includes a visual graphic on how to make and fold your own zine, and there’s a video for extra guidance. You may get tripped up by the “sandwich press” part of the folding (it’s a bit tricky!), but you’ll get the hang of it. And if you mess up, you can always reprint.

Image: Back side of the Step-By-Step Diwali Mini Zine with Activity Prompt and Zine making visual guide.

I made mine using just paper and my hands—no fancy tools besides a printer. If you have a bone folder, ruler, or box cutter, they can help flatten and cut neatly. I wanted to show how easily you can download, print, and start making your Diwali mini zine without needing to plan ahead. For a sturdier keepsake, try printing on thicker paper.

Get your FREE download here.

What’s Inside the Step-By-Step Diwali Mini Zine?

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find inside:

• Five Steps for Diwali: Simple hand drawn illustrated steps packed with fun facts, focusing on the festival’s essence and helping you get “Diwali-ready” in a mindful way.
• A Phonics Guide: Connect with the Hindi sounds of “Diwali” and “Deepawali”, helping us grow our bilingual tribe and appreciate the beautiful sounds of these words.
• Activity Prompt: Encourages you to “be the light and share the light,” by setting intentions for ways that help you shine even brighter.
• Visual Guide for Zine-Making: Step-by-step visuals show how to make and fold your zine, so you can easily create your own zines on any topic.

Image: Inside view of the Step-By-Step Diwali Mini Zine colored in by my six and four year olds.

This zine serves as a gentle nudge to stay centered, kind, and intentional, and the Integrity Notecard is a perfect place to jot down these intentions. Use the notecard to write how you can “brighten your light” and keep sharing it. It can be a reminder to align your actions, words, and spirit each day.

Why This Zine is for Everyone?

• Kids can enjoy coloring, cutting, and folding the zine, learning about Diwali through hands-on activities (adult supervision recommended depending on age).
• Parents and Caregivers can enjoy the mindful act of creating it, perhaps sparking ideas for future mini zines or family traditions.
• Educators and Librarians can use it as an interactive tool to introduce Diwali, encouraging conversations about Diwali, intention, and light.

Download your FREE Step-by-Step Diwali Mini Zine.

Start a Mini Zine Collection ( Like I have!)

Now that you’ve made your first Diwali Mini Zine, consider keeping it as the start of a collection. I keep a small box of zines on my desk—each one a keepsake from special moments or creative projects. You can make zines for other holidays, family traditions, or just as a creative outlet. This Diwali zine reconnected me with the joy of zine-making, reminding me to create more, so you can expect us to share more zines going forward. I’m excited about the possibilities!

Image: My personal collection of mini zines from early 2023 in a keepsake handcrafted box picked up from our trip to Kashmir, India.

The Step-by-Step Diwali Mini Zine is my way of sharing Diwali’s warmth and light with you and the community. Keep it, gift it, or add it to your keepsake box as a reminder that you are the light. I hope our first edition of Diwali Mini Zine brings joy, reflection, and inspiration to you and those you share it with—and I look forward to creating more zines to celebrate our growing tribe of bilingual explorers of words and worlds together.

Did you make your first Step-by-Step Diwali Mini Zine? Share your feedback with us below in the comments or leave a review here.