by Sande Waybill

Created on: October 08, 2009

With the alternative name the festival of lights, the most popular Diwali decorations will definitely include some form of lighting. There are many alternatives and additional options, though. Houses are generally cleaned before their adornment in order to allow the decor to provide the best effect.

DIYAS & OTHER LAMPS
The most common household embellishment used at Diwali is that of the diya. A diya is a small lamp usually made from clay. Ghee is traditionally used as the fuel source and the wick floats freely as it burns. Other types of lamp can also be used to light up a house and courtyard for Diwali. Oil or wax may be used and metal may replace the clay. Contemporary designed diyas and lamps are available in stores for purchase nowadays. These may have a less traditional shape, may be highly decorative, and tend to use wax as the fuel with a set wick.

CANDLES
Candles of various design, shape, color, and size are another popular lighting item that adorns a family home during the Diwali festivities. Red is a popular color as it is both festive and representative of the goddesses involved in the festival. Many modern candles are contained in small trays and come with designs printed on them.

PAPER LANTERNS
Among the items that can be hung up inside or outside of as house for Diwali are paper lanterns. These are most commonly attached to the front of a house as a decoration to be seen by passers by. Paper lanterns can be purchased ready made or you can create your own from colored paper. Many lanterns are made from rice paper.

HANGINGS
As well as various forms of lighting, a fashionable adornment for Diwali is a wall hanging. These generally depict the religious characters most associated with the festival, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. As well as hanging these on the wall, they are suited to decorating the entrance to either the home or an altar room.

RANGOLIS
In order to invite and welcome the Goddess Lakshmi into a house, rangolis are designed in the entryway. Using different colors, special patterns based on natural designs are created. These are made from colored powdered chalk, sand, or rice.

FLOWERS
Flowers are one of the most popular non-lighting decorations for Diwali. As well as making them a part of the rangolis, presenting flowers to friends is becoming increasingly popular. Many people place fresh flowers about their homes, put garlands in their entryway, and place small flowers on their Puja thali.

PUJA THALI
Special offering trays named Puja thali can be decorated with multiple items. Small beaded containers may be found that contain rice, flowers, petals, fruits, sweets, candles, or sandalwood.

BRASS IDOLS
A popular gift for Diwali is that of brass idols of the appropriate deities. Statuettes of Ganesha and Lakshmi are the most common. These are often used to embellish rooms during Diwali by placing them on shelves or windowsills. Although brass is the most usual material, other metals may be used.

POTS & URNS
For containing the Diwali flowers, special urns and pots are available. These may also beautify a room without containing flowers, as they are generally bright and colorful in themselves. Gold and black are popular pot colors.

BELLS
Stringing ornamental hanging bells about the home is another popular and traditional custom for Diwali. These can be used in conjunction with lanterns and diyas, or stand alone. Bells can be hung inside or outside a house for Diwali.

URLs used for research:
http://www.diwalicelebrations.net/flowers-decor.html
http://www.theholidayspot.com/diwali/decorations.htm
http://www.diwalimela.com/celebrations/decorations.h tml
http://www.ehow.com/how_2061664_decorate-diwali.html

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