Speech on Diwali for Kids: Short and Long Versions, with Tips

Every year in the weeks before Diwali, schools hold assemblies and children are asked to speak about the festival. It is one of the most common speech topics of the year, and a wonderful one for a young speaker, because everyone in the audience already loves the subject.

Here are two Diwali speeches your child can use or adapt: a short one of about one minute for younger children, and a longer one of about three minutes for older children. After them you will find tips on making the speech your child’s own and delivering it confidently.

Short speech on Diwali (about 1 minute)

Good morning to our respected principal, teachers and my dear friends. Today I would like to say a few words about my favourite festival, Diwali, the festival of lights.

Diwali is celebrated in October or November every year. We celebrate it to remember the day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years in the forest and his victory over Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps to welcome him home. That is why we light diyas on Diwali.

On Diwali we clean our homes, make rangoli, wear new clothes, pray to Goddess Lakshmi and share sweets with family and friends. Diwali teaches us that light always wins over darkness and good always wins over evil.

Let us celebrate Diwali with joy, kindness and care for our planet. Happy Diwali to everyone. Thank you.

That speech is about 130 words, which a young child can say comfortably in about a minute.

Long speech on Diwali (about 3 minutes)

Good morning to our respected principal, teachers and my dear friends. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a dark night. Now imagine one small lamp being lit, then another, then a thousand, until the whole street is glowing. That is the picture of Diwali, and that is what I would like to talk about today.

The word Diwali comes from Deepavali, which means a row of lamps. It is one of the most important festivals in India and is celebrated by millions of people around the world, usually in October or November.

The best-known story of Diwali comes from the Ramayana. After fourteen years in the forest and his victory over Ravana, Lord Rama returned home to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana. The people were so happy that they lit lamps all along the streets to welcome them. But Diwali has other stories too. In many parts of South India, people remember how Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. Many families worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Jains remember Lord Mahavira, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day. One festival, many stories, and every one of them is about light winning over darkness.

Diwali is celebrated over five days. It begins with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdashi, then the main day of Lakshmi Puja, then Govardhan Puja, and finally Bhai Dooj, when brothers and sisters celebrate their bond. Homes are cleaned and decorated, rangolis are drawn at the doorstep, diyas are lit, and families come together to share sweets and gifts.

But I believe the real meaning of Diwali is not only about the lamps outside our homes. It is also about the light inside us. Every time we choose honesty over a lie, kindness over anger, or sharing over selfishness, we are lighting a lamp inside ourselves.

This Diwali, let us also remember to celebrate responsibly. Let us think of animals and birds who are frightened by loud noises, of elderly people and of our air. Let us light more diyas and burst fewer crackers, and share our sweets with those who have less.

Let us make this Diwali bright, not only in our homes but in our hearts. I wish you all a very happy and safe Diwali. Thank you.

That speech is about 400 words, which an older child will speak in roughly three minutes at a relaxed pace.

A speech is not an essay read aloud. It is a conversation with an audience. Look up, slow down, and let the room hear you smile.

How to make the speech your own

The best speeches always include something personal. Encourage your child to add one sentence about their own Diwali: helping their grandmother make sweets, drawing the rangoli with their sister, or the year they celebrated far from home. A personal detail turns a speech the audience has heard many times into one they will remember.

Change words your child would not naturally say. If a phrase feels too grown-up, swap it for something simpler. The speech should sound like your child talking, not like a book.

Tips for delivering it confidently

Practise out loud, standing up, every day for a week before the assembly. Time it, so your child knows they will finish comfortably.

Do not memorise word for word. Write the main points on a small card: the greeting, the story, the five days, the meaning, the closing wish. A child who knows the shape of the speech can recover easily from a forgotten line.

Practise the opening most of all. The first ten seconds are when nerves are strongest. The imagine-a-dark-night opening of the long speech works because it gives the child a calm, slow first line and gets the audience involved.

Speak slowly and pause. Pause after the opening question, before the main message and before the final wish. Pauses make a speaker sound confident, and give the audience time to listen.

Look at the audience. Encourage your child to choose three friendly faces, one on the left, one in the middle and one on the right, and look at each in turn.

Smile at the end. The final happy Diwali wish should be warm and clear, followed by a pause and then thank you.

Beyond the assembly

A Diwali speech is often the first time a child speaks in front of their whole school, and how it goes can shape how they feel about speaking for years. Our live public speaking classes help children build that confidence step by step, with a small, supportive group and a mentor who gives practical feedback every week. If you would like your child to learn with a mentor, enquire about our classes through the Book a Class page; fees are listed on our Pricing page.