How to Decorate for Diwali

Add color and light

Diwali is a joyous Hindu celebration that honors Lakshmi, Goddess of beauty, fortune and prosperity, with fireworks, the sharing of sweets and the opportunity to decorate the home with bright colors and lights. In fact, many people interpret the spirit of Diwali as a time to express their best creativity in order to receive divine blessings. Find out how to make the most of this 5-day festival by learning how to decorate for Diwali.

Things You'll Need

• Paper lanterns
• Bells
• Fresh flowers
• Thali trays and offerings
• Diyas
• Rangoli

Instructions

Learn How to Decorate for Diwali

1. Get out the mop and dusting cloth before you decorate for Diwali. This is the time of year all families in India tend to any needed repairs and initiate renovations of the home. At the very least, the home is thoroughly cleansed in anticipation of the arrival of Diwali. Furniture is often moved to create more open space, and exterior as well as interior walls are whitewashed or painted.

2. Invite the blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi to your home, office or school by using rangoli art to decorate for Diwali. Rangoli is an ancient system of painting intricate patterns and designs (often culled from nature) with colored sand, rice or powdered chalk. Rangoli paintings are very popular to decorate with during Diwali. In fact, most homes and public venues display rangoli art on entranceways, garden areas and even on entire interior floors at this time of year.

3. Distribute plenty of colorful, fresh flowers throughout your home and office to decorate for Diwali. Red is a favorite color of goddess and mortal alike, and roses are particularly fancied.

4. Decorate your space with special trays called Puja thali in which offerings are laid out. These are often decorated with beadwork or trinkets and filled with rice, flowers, sandalwood, fresh fruits, sweets and candles.

5. String paper lanterns around the front of your home to usher in the Festival of Lights. It is also a popular practice to hang bells on the front door, or even disconnect the doorbell in favor of a bell announcing the arrival of visitors.

6. Illuminate your home with diyas to decorate for Diwali. A diya is a small oil lamp made from earthenware with a cotton wick soaked in ghee. Diyas are one of the most significant of Diwali decorations and are lit in remembrance of the deceased and to worship the gods and goddesses.

Tips & Warnings

• Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. Its meaning is to celebrate the power of good over evil and to embrace beauty and one's inner light.