Tanishq celebrates Diwali in the UAE with 'Share the Light' campaign

Many people fail to achieve the desired beautiful look when buying expensive items from home decoration stores for Diwali. They might think their home looks less impressive than others because they couldn't afford the most beautiful things. However, this is a misconception.

The reason a home might not look sufficiently beautiful is the lack of harmony in the decorative elements. This time, you can give your home a look that is simultaneously traditional, modern, and royal. To do this, you don't necessarily need to spend money on expensive decorations; it is enough to use marigold garlands, designer lanterns, beautiful torans, and brass pots to give your dwelling a completely new appearance. It is important to note that many of these decorative elements will continue to decorate your home even after the Diwali festival.

Decorating with marigolds holds special significance during Diwali. These yellow and orange flowers create a festive atmosphere in the home and lend a traditional beauty to the decoration. Long marigold garlands can be placed from the main entrance to the prayer room, living room, and balcony. If small firework lights are placed between them, their beauty will intensify at night. The decoration can also be made special by using mango or ashoka leaves along with the flowers.

If you want to bring something new to this year's decor, be sure to include hanging lanterns. Metal, glass, and colorful designed lanterns give the home a vintage and royal look. They can be hung on the balcony, in the living room, on the roof, or in any free corner of the house. Lanterns with LED bulbs are easily found in stores. Their advantage is that they can be used not only during Diwali but also on other holidays and special occasions.

Every guest entering the house first pays attention to the main entrance. Therefore, you should not forget to decorate the entrance in a special way for this holiday. For this, you can use beautiful torans made of marigolds, mango leaves, and beads. If you do not want to buy a ready-made toran, you can make one yourself at home using old bracelets, colored paper, threads, and flowers. Adding small pendants or lights on both sides of the door will make the entrance even more attractive.

During Diwali, the walls of the house can also become part of the decoration. Lotus-shaped patterned hangings can be a good option. They are currently very popular on social media and online shopping platforms. These hangings, available in pink, red, yellow, and gold colors, give the walls a beautiful look. They can be placed in the living room, beside the door, or on the balcony. You can also make them at home using colored paper, cardboard, and old bracelets, which allows you to achieve a creative home look with less expense.

The Diwali festival seems incomplete without light. Therefore, fireworks and LED lamps are excellent choices for home decoration. They can be used on balcony railings, windows, curtains, in the temple, and in the living room. Additionally, LED lamps can be placed in small corners of the house and on decorative tables to give a beautiful look. The advantage of these lamps is that they can be reused multiple times, and there is no need to pour oil or change wicks, as with real lamps.

If you want the home decor to remain beautiful after Diwali, you can incorporate brass pots into the decoration. These golden-colored pots give the home a very stylish and royal look. You can plant money plants, snake plants, and other decorative plants in them, placing them in the living room, on the balcony, on the stairs, or near the main entrance. The combination of the shine of brass and green plants gives the home a natural and aesthetic look. Importantly, they can be used year-round, not just during Diwali.

As the festival of Diwali approaches, people begin preparing their homes by cleaning and decorating. In Hinduism, Diwali is considered a festival welcoming the goddess Lakshmi. According to religious beliefs, Goddess Lakshmi resides in a clean home, which is why a thorough cleaning is conducted in every corner of the dwelling before Diwali.

Vastu Shastra also emphasizes the importance of maintaining cleanliness in the house. It is believed that clutter and unnecessary items can amplify negative energy. Therefore, when preparing for Diwali, attention should be paid to often-ignored areas. Below are five places that must be cleared before this festival.

Vastu Tips for Diwali:

1. Keep the Main Entrance Clean

In Vastu Shastra, the main entrance to the house is considered extremely important. It is believed that positive energy enters the dwelling through this point. Therefore, before Diwali, the main entrance and the surrounding area must be thoroughly cleaned of dust, cobwebs, and dirt. Old shoes, broken pots, or unnecessary items should not be left near the door. You can also decorate this spot with a beautiful rangoli and lamps.

2. Don't Forget to Clean the Shrine

During Diwali, worship is performed to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Due to this, special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the home shrine. Statues, photographs, and ritual items in the shrine must be cleaned. Old flowers, garlands, and offerings should be removed. A clean cloth should be laid in the shrine, and necessary items such as lamps and incense should be placed correctly. Religious belief states that performing rituals in a clean place brings peace of mind.

3. Maintain Cleanliness in the Ishan Corner of the House

In Vastu Shastra, the northeastern sector is called the Ishan Corner. It is considered auspicious for religious rites and worship. Therefore, before Diwali, unnecessary items, old boxes, and junk should be removed from this direction. Try to keep this area clean and organized. According to beliefs, disorder or untidiness in the Ishan Corner can negatively affect the positivity of the home.

4. Clean Around Cabinets and Safes

During Diwali, worship is performed to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera. Therefore, it is essential to clean around cabinets and safes in the house before this festival. Remove old papers, unnecessary receipts, and extra items stored in them. Wipe the safe with a clean cloth and neatly place money and important documents. According to Vastu, the cleanliness of the money storage area is considered auspicious.

5. Also Clean the Roof, Balcony, and Pantry

When cleaning for Diwali, people often forget about the roof, balcony, and pantry. Old boxes, broken items, and trash accumulate in these areas. They should be thoroughly cleaned before Diwali. Remove dry leaves from plants on the balcony and clear up trash accumulated on the roof. Vastu Shastra asserts that maintaining cleanliness in these parts of the house is a good sign.

Diwali is a time when homes are illuminated with clay lamps (diyas). However, a sustainable celebration can begin with the simple reuse of existing items. Instead of purchasing new clay lamps every year, a little creativity allows old diyas to take on a new look.

Content creator in lifestyle and travel, Sharon J. M. Natani, who shares DIY ideas on her Instagram page @thatangloindiansindhi, suggests a simple method for reusing last year's diyas and preparing them for the festive season.

Method for securing wicks

Her method involves using desi ghee and candles to prepare the diyas for lighting. She advises heating the ghee, melting candles in it, and then pouring the resulting mixture into the diyas before inserting the wicks.

This small change in the process matters. Often, if the wicks are placed inside the diya before pouring the liquid, they might fall or become crooked during filling. Sharon recommends pouring the mixture first and then adding the wick, which helps it remain upright and in place.

Once the diyas are ready, they can be decorated with a small amount of glitter or finely chopped flower petals. These small details can give the old lamps a festive look without the need to buy new ones. Reusing diyas is an easy way to reduce waste during the festive season by using what you already have at home. With a little effort, last year's lamps can return to your Diwali decorations, bringing the same festive warmth without increasing unnecessary consumption.

This Diwali, before going out to buy new decorations, it is worth looking at what you already have. Sometimes the most eco-friendly holiday ideas start with giving familiar things a second chance.