For devotion and decor

When I admire the beauty of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator.Well, one can identify with Mahatma Gandhi’s faith about Nature being the manifestation of the divine. But then, in our culture, rituals have long had  their own place. Hence the prayer room or the pooja room is an integral part of our homes.

Some people like to spend a few minutes in it, while many spend a good hour or two worshipping the deity they so believe in. So if you haven’t given much thought to pooja room design yet, it’s time you do. Here are a few ideas to help you out:All about location
First, plan where the room must be situated in your home. The pooja room space is said to determine the extent of peace, prosperity and happiness that you’ll enjoy in life.

If you’re home is spacious enough to house an entire room for prayers, there is nothing like it. It is recommended that the pooja room occupy the ground floor. As for the direction it has to face, it’s better to consult a vastu expert. But what you must definitely avoid is locating it below the stairs or in the basement. Inside the bedroom or beside the bathroom/kitchen are two other spots  to avoid.

However, if your living space is too small or congested, people are forced to be content with shelves, cabinets or standalone mandaps in lieu of a separate pooja room. Else, a standalone wooden cabin, granite/marble parapet or room-dividers to demarcate a compact worship space can be accommodated in the hall or verandah.

The look and feelOpt for either glass or wood (or a combination of the two) doors. They could sport little jingling bells in carved niches or pegged onto wooden doors or Tanjore/ miniature paintings of deities on glass panels in a wooden frame.Now we come to the representation of the deities. Some people go for idols sculpted from bronze, brass, gold, silver or clay, while others are content with displaying elaborately framed photographs.

Choose from between these two options or go for a combination of the two. But keep in mind that the idols shouldn’t face each other. Plus, place them on a higher level above the floor, that is, on a pedestal or altar. A richly-embroidered silk cloth over the altar and silk robes and artistic jewels for the idols heighten their beauty.

The crucial question here, however, is how many. The answer depends on the size of the pooja room. Ensure that the appearance is neither too bare nor too cramped. Choosing a mandap – a platform with pillars to support the top for housing the idols – from among a wide range involves decisions about their material, size and style.

Will you place it on an ornate pedestal or a minimalist one? How large and how tall or broad should it be? Choose artistically-crafted pooja room utensils and lamps. Though brass is utilitarian, it’s silver that imparts exquisite elegance to your pooja room. Take time to choose the lamps. Ornate or simple, silver or brass, carved or plain, tall or petite – you are spoilt for choice in this section. Picking the right pooja accessories depends not merely on your tastes and preferences, but also on practical aspects like the size of the pooja room, available space, number and size of idols and the decor theme.

The ambience

Speaking of decor themes, what do you do about the walls? Paint them in earthen or light colours like white, cream or beige. Garishly bright hues will only ruin your concentration. Paintings and wallpaper of divine events or deities can adorn your pooja room walls. Hang strings of fresh flowers or artificial ones and plaques with deities, religious symbols or shlokas/ hymns/philosophical sayings on the walls.

Alternatively, you could get these inscribed or painted on the walls. Murals are another option. Create a warm ambience using incandescent lighting with the help of intricately-designed wall sconces, candles and earthen diyas. If you’re strictly for utilitarian lighting, go for LED lamps and bulbs. Colourful twinkling string-lights can also be used for decoration.

Flooring can be of marble or ceramic/ vitrified tiles. Draw artistic rangolis using rangoli powder or flowers and petals if space permits. Another option is to spread carpets bearing ethnic designs. Wall-to-wall carpeting in sombre hues is another possibility.

Floating wax candles in brass basins with flowers and petals strewn in spruce up your pooja space. Candles lit in coloured glass containers/chimneys/lamps make for dreamy accessories. But, keep the lamps and candles away from breeze. Bells are mandatory for creating that tranquil ambience, be it at the entryway, near the mandap or in strings on the walls.


And customisation

Did you know that your pooja-room can be designed in contemporary style, too? Spartan in appearance with minimalist furniture, indoor plants and plain sculptures thrown in, they can have a unique feel. Tables/pedestals for placing the idol and ottomans/cushions/meditation mats for sitting before the idol or at the back wall for onlookers also follow the sparse decor theme.

Modular pooja rooms, cabins or cabinets are also available in an amazing range of designs. You can always hire a professional designer to customise a worship space that’ll cater to your creative instincts and piety.Be sure to select a design that needs little maintenance and can be kept clean without too much effort. Flexibility for redecoration is an added bonus.So when creating your pooja room, make sure it is a blend of devotion and smart decor!