We are just few days away from Diwali. Every few years , I try to create some ethnic crafts for Diwali décor. Just my humble effort to present Indian culture to my own kids. Being NRI is really not that easy when it comes to celebrating Indian festivals. We don’t have national holidays on Diwali, Holi etc, we don’t have malls decked up because of Diwali. We don’t see houses decorated here on Diwali. Hence, we have to make an extra effort to create that mood within our homes.
Here are few of my newest creations for Diwali. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.
Rangoli :
It is a colorful pattern usually made by women on auspicious occasions. It is believed to bring good luck , health and prosperity.The style varies as per one’s interest, region and these days availability of time. I didn’t use any real colors as I’m not a pro. So I decided to make this one. Good for beginners like me. Learn more about rangoli here.
Materials Used : Glitter Card Stock in two contrasting colors, Real Pennies/Coins, Glue, Scissors
Time: About 45 minutes
I used a yellow glitter cardstock as base and red one for the foot steps which I traced with a pencil on red sheet first and then cut them and for bordering Th eborder is glued below the yellow sheet . Using the real coins gives it an authentic look.
You can make some extra foot steps ( laxmi charan ) with red sheets.
Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is one of the most worshipped deities among Hindus. This elephant head Lord is believed to remove obstacles and bring wisdom and intellect. Before performing any rituals, this is the first one to be worshipped. Click here to read more about Lord Ganesha. Some of the best Rangolis are made with lord Ganesha as the central design.
This is what I did. Not using it as rangoli. Instead, it will be a wall décor.
Materials Used : Foam Sheet, Fancy Lace/ Ribbon, Almonds, Glue, Sequins
Time: 30 minutes
A yellow foam sheet is the base here, bordered on one side with a broad green lace. On the green border, I pasted the diya shaped cut outs from red foam sheet. You can decorate the diyas any way you like. In the middle I made a Ganesha with silver sequins. On the left side a silver lace and few almonds to create a balance.
Kalasha
Kalasha typically means a pot full of water , topped with mango leaves and coconut. This kalasha is considered as a symbol of life and abundance. More details here.
Materials Used : Foam sheets – red, green and brown, scissors, glue, sequins for decoration ( optional)
Time required: 30 minutes
Glitter sheets in red and green , golden lace in the middle for the swastika sign, and sequins all around the red kalasha on the border. You will have to draw rough pattern on sheets and then cut them individually and then finally join them together.. Green leaves are below the red sheet.
Torans
Torans or bandanwaars are used to decorate the main entrance door of house. Toran and all of the above decorations are mainly displayed to welcome the Goddess of wealth – Lakshmi . Typically a toran is made of a long thread with leaves attached to it. These days many contemporary Torans are also available. Here’s my contemporary touch to the traditional Toran.
Materials used: Foam, sequins, good quality metallic lace
Time required: 45 minutes
Cut 3 same sixed triangles and 3 rectangles. Place each triangle on top of rectangle to make a hut shape. Decorate each set as per your liking. I have used golden lace, sequins. In the center I placed a small figurine ( got those as gifts) which completed the look.
As you can see , with little effort you can create these crafts which will bring a personal touch to your diwali décor.
We are just 4 days away from Diwali. I’m sure you are busy making all the preparations. I just cleaned all the closets, cupboards and drawers of the house today. I started last weekend and slowly but steadily finished this job. But there’s lot more which needs to be done. Will catch you all later.
And all this while, don’t forget about your Diwali outfit. If you need some outfit inspiration for Diwali, check this .
Rise and Shine !!
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Thanks for your kind words.
Yup thats the whole point.Thanks for stopping by , Andi !
Thanks Sarah.
Awesome! I love it, especially the Torans. 🙂
I love that you have taken it upon yourself to make your own decorations for Diwali. Preserving your culture and traditions for your family is so special!
All of this is so creative! Love how you’re making your crafts intersect with such a beautiful festival. Thanks for these perfect DIY ideas.
Alessandra | The PumpUp Blog
These crafts you made for the festival are such a great idea! You are very talented 🙂 Thanks for sharing about your culture!
I am not that great with crafting but i think even I can do some of these projects. I love how sparkly everything is!
Cute ideas.. Really love the Rangoli
— DT | Here I Scribble
when i read posts like this i remember the need for creativity….. now this is awesome…
i nominated you for a GRATITUDE CHALLENGE, check it out here.
see here http://www.lexhansplace.com/2015/11/gratitude-challenge.html
These are some beautiful projects, that don’t feel overwhelming. I’m not the best crafter so I like that these are simple, yet also very ornate and beautiful, and I specially love how you explain their relation to your culture and religion. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Lauren.
Thanks Yamini. I’m trying my best 🙂
Thanks much !
Thanks Sharvari. A very Happy Diwali to you as well 🙂
Linda, I have always enjoyed crafts, wish I could give more time to this passion of mine. Do share your Christmas crafts as Im also planning to make some new ones 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Julie!
This is BEAUTIFUL!! Great post, thank you so much for sharing these great ideas.
This is the first time I have heard about your festival. Looks like a lot of fun crafting. I guess I will have to wait till Christmas to get crafty myself. 🙂
You are very creative and talented I loved the Torans the most !
Happy Diwali to you and family !
http://www.mumbaitomelbourne.com/fashion-and-beauty-blog-posts/desi-for-diwali
Cool festival. Some very nice patterns, very interesting.
Love your DIYs. Diwali is my favourite festival as it brings lots of happiness and brightness to our lives. Thank you for presenting Indian culture in such a beutiful manner.
Wow! Love seeing how you incorporate crafts into your faith. I am a christian and help with church/sunday school and I see the things my kids make, etc. Its fun to learn about a different religion and how you do it! Great job, Mama!