Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Durga with Nature’s Colors

Materials You’ll Need:

• A printed or hand-drawn outline of Goddess Durga’s face.
• Red, orange, and yellow fall leaves (or any vibrant autumn-colored leaves).
• Glue stick or craft glue.
• Scissors.
• Decorative embellishments (optional): small pearls, beads, or golden threads for jewelry accents.
• Colored markers (for outlining or small details).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Durga Face Outline

• Start by printing or drawing a simple outline of Goddess Durga’s face.
• You can search for printable outlines online or draw one using a reference.

2. Collect and Prepare Fall Leaves

• Gather fall leaves in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
• Ensure they are dry and flat for easy application. You can press them between books for a few hours if they’re too curled.
• Cut the leaves into various sizes as needed, especially for creating smaller, detailed areas like earrings or the crown.

3. Create Durga’s Crown

• Using red and orange leaves, arrange and glue them at the top of Durga’s head to form the crown.
• Overlap the leaves to give the crown a full, layered look.
• Optionally, add embellishments like pearls or beads for a decorative touch at the base of the crown.

4. Make the Earrings and Necklace

• For earrings, cut smaller pieces of leaves and glue them at the sides of the face where the earrings should go.
• Add small pearls or decorative beads for more flair.
• To make the necklace, arrange leaves at the base of the neck. Optionally, add a gold chain or decorative string along the neckline for a more glamorous look.

5. Add Final Details

• Use a golden string or any thin decorative thread to create a maang tika (forehead ornament) by gluing it from the top of the crown to the center of Durga’s forehead.
• Add other embellishments like pearls around the face or jewelry elements to enhance the overall look.

6. Finish the Craft

• Once everything is glued in place, let it dry for about an hour.
• Use markers to highlight certain parts of the face or outline any areas you want to emphasize.

Display:

Once completed, your Durga fall leaf craft will look vibrant and festive, perfect for displaying during Durga Puja or any celebration of the goddess. This creative project is not only a fun way to use natural materials but also connects you with the season and culture in a beautiful, artistic way.