Brighten up your homes

Decoration Choices

Decoration not only adds to the feeling of joy but makes the house brighter, and gives it a brand new look.

People look forward to embellishing their homes with decorative items. It is also believed that Goddess Lakshmi enters the house and blesses one with prosperity and wealth on Deepavali.

There are innumerable options to decorate one’s house. Colourful diyas in different designs, aromatic candles, flowers in different hues and rangolis in front of houses and shops, make for a vivid appearance.

Some people even paint their houses to make it look new and fresh while others arrange the diyas using all their creative instincts in different patterns at the entrance of their house attracting visitors and passers-by.

A host of colourful lamp shades, hung across the porch of every household, adds to the delightful ambience. Colourful torans, festooned with intricate mirror work, create an ethnic look.

Uruli filled with water, flowers and diyas, usually placed in front of the house or in the puja room, makes for a striking appearance. Lamp shades, available in different hues, and hung across the balconies are a major attraction.

Rangolis in different hues and complex designs made using rice flour, chalk powder and other colours are a sign to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Diyas are available in different designs and patterns — from simple clay deepas to hand-painted, brilliant diyas and lamps. Then there are diyas with zari and mirror work in exuberant colours.

Ganesha and Lakshmi diyas are also available. Tanuja, a homemaker, makes candles and lights them during Deepavali. “I usually make floating candles and put them in an earthen bowl with lot of flowers, and I also light up the house with hanate, the traditional earthen lamp,” she says.

Sachin, a businessman, who celebrates Deepavali in all its grandeur, says, “We light up the entire house with clay lamps and also use different shades of candles to
decorate our balcony.

We perform a special puja on Dhanteras and welcome Goddess Lakshmi to bless our family with prosperity and wealth for which we deck up the house in the traditional manner.”

“Deepavali signifies light, which represents Jnana or knowledge. We decorate our house to welcome the divine light to eliminate ajnana or ignorance. Bursting of crackers is part of the tradition which signifies elimination of darkness and bringing light into one’s life,” says Sandhya, a bank employee.

So this Deepavali, deck up your homes to usher in the light of life and dispel darkness.