Diwali is celebrated all across India as ‘the festival of lights’ and the victory of light over darkness. So the décor, rituals and traditions of Diwali are all about lights and glitter. It is the time to bring out all the lamps & candles, polish the brass to a shine, cook up delicious sweets and be ready to welcome guests into your home to take part in the festivities. Here are a few things you can do to spruce up your home this Diwali.
Entrance Décor
Make the entrance to your house and the foyer welcoming and festive. There are many ways to decorate it for Diwali.
Create intricate Rangoli patterns if you are good at drawing. You can use colorful chalks or powders to create these patterns. You also get ready-made Kundan Rangolis that come as pieces and can be just placed on the floor. These use a base of plastic sheet on which bright beads & glitter are stuck. They can be reused and you can also make your unique design by combining different sets.
Hang Torans of natural mango leaves & flowers like marigold or jasmine. Along with the festive color, they add a heady fragrance as well – one that is associated with festivities. If you like some glitter, you can choose from many artificial ones that are made of sequins, wood or mirror-work. These also come in many fancy shapes and bright colors.
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Lighting Ideas
Diwali is all about lights. Be it traditional lamps, terracotta diyas, candles or electric lights – this is the time of the year that you can use ALL of them.
For the exterior lighting like balconies, choose electric lights as the natural flame cannot stay alight in the wind. There are many fairy lights or string lights to choose from. But if you like to go in for candles, choose hurricane lamps or lanterns that offer some protection against the wind. You could use water glass or mason jars too to place tealight candles in.
For lighting up your home interiors, you can buy some terracotta diyas and paint them with bright colors and stick beads & sequins. Place them around the house – on tables or ledges or even line them as a border along the floor or arrange them in a rangoli pattern. String up fairy lights along the ceiling or the walls. You could place fairy lights that work on battery inside mason jars or old liquor bottles for some quirky lighting options. Use some gold lace or paper to wrap these candle holders and add some bling to the light. Polish the brass & silver lamps to a shine and fill them with fragrant oils to light them up. This truly gives the authentic feel of festivities and is considered auspicious as well. Decorate the lamps with flowers if you would like to add some color.
Fill urn or urlis or large bowls with water and put in flowers and petals in them. Add some floating candles for that touch of Diwali.
Color & Glitter
Looking to redecorate? This is the right time to do it and be ready for Diwali. If you don’t want to spend too much but still want a new look for the festivities, you can get a new festive look for the living room – the main area where you will host your Diwali parties. Buy new curtains in bright colors with gold motifs or made of art silk. Place matching bright cushions across sofas and chairs. This can instantly transform how your living room looks and set the mood for the festivities.
Binge Without Any Guilt
Apart from the new dresses and decorations, festivals are also a time for some awesome food. Traditionally kitchens would be busy before a month, preparing for Diwali. While this may not be possible now, try your hand at some homemade laddoos and other sweets & savories. It is the right time for the chef in you to experiment. Traditional, elaborate meals are a must during this season. Of course, the presentation of this wonderful food is also important. If you have silverware or copperware, polish them well and use them. Even if it is not an entire set, choose good pieces that can be set as a centerpiece. You can also use some zari lace or kundan rangolis and lamps to decorate the table.
Party Favours
Who doesn’t like gifts? And Diwali is a time for exchanging gifts. You can add a bit of personal touch by making some party favors for your guests to take back home. Buy some terracotta diyas and paint them in gold or bright colors like orange, yellow or blue. You can also create patterns with simple dot painting. Get some glass jars and fill them up with homemade sweets like besan laddoos, chocolates or brownies.Use some brightly colored paper to make a bag, fix some gold string for the handles and create a gift hamper by placing a couple of your hand-painted diyas and a jar of your homemade sweets. Your guests will be thrilled to receive this little personalized gift when they leave. You can also add a little note thanking them and wishing them a Happy Diwali!!
What do you do to make your home special for Diwali? Do let us know….