JOIN USBeautiful earthen hand-crafted diyas with kundan work encrusted on them will light up your Diwali and lift up your spirits. From bindi work to kundan, every technique is being used to brighten your Diwali diya, while the shapes have gone from being a simple circle and flower patterns to images of Ganesha, Buddha and even peacocks.
All these, in bright colours represent elements of sun and fire – yellow, golden, red, blue and purple (the latest addition) along with sparkle add to the glow of the earthen lamps. Initially lit to welcome Lord Ram in Ayodhya, these diyas have travelled through ages, as part of Hindu mythology and reached our times where lighting fancy and uniquely crafted diyas has become a trend.
It is this desire to light up the home in the fanciest possible way that designers have started experimenting with new techniques. The kundan work which is actually called the ‘mehendi work’ is one of these. Sanvi Khanna, from Creations by Sanvi says, “There are special karigars who make mehendi work diyas in peacock, Buddha and Ganesha styles. While the peacock design costs Rs 400 for a pair, the rest are priced even higher.” But price isn’t really an issue if the creation is good.
Take for instance, the Jaipuri mirror work on red and green coloured diyas that look pretty at doorsteps and then of course, the combined sets which include five to nine diyas on one panel with small attached idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha. A perfect piece to light up and worship this Diwali. Thomas Johan, GM retail operations and institutional sales, @home, says, “Among the traditional variants, the flower and leaf designs are still preferred by many if the diyas are brightly painted. In contemporary designs, the idols crafted in the shape of diyas are extremely popular.” Lighting up Diwali could’t get better.