10 ways of making Diyas and Rangoli to decorate your house this Diwali

Diwali- The Festival Of Lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by five days of celebration, which literally illuminates all with its brilliance and dazzles with its joy. Each of the five days during the festival are separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness. Diwali is the biggest festival in India & the puja of God Ganesha with Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth, good fortune & prosperity). Therefore, Diwali festival is synonymous with cleanliness as Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness & decorating the home with beautiful diyas, candles & colorful rangoli to welcome Goddess Lakshmi in home. 

A “Diya” is a traditional candles. The relation of Diwali and Diya is just unique. Diwali is the festival of lights and the Diyas bring light to the world removing ignorance and welcoming the boon of knowledge.

My Diwali celebrations are not very elaborate. During my childhood, I used to be pretty excited to burst firecrackers and light diyas with my parents. Diwali for me means fun time with family and friends with a variety of eateries and lots of diyas, flowers and rangoli decorating every nook and corner of my house. So friends, here I would like to share a couple of innovative Diwali diyas & rangoli decoration ideas which are extremely simple and made out of waste material, to help you decorate your home in different styles. Your learning begins here...

1. Make Tee-light holders using old cds. Just bejewel your old cds with kundans, beads, bright colored papers and glitter glue and turn them into beautiful t-light holders.

2. Make use of skins falling off the Gulmohar tree to turn it into a very elegant tee light holder. This is a very simple, yet innovative activity. Easy to do with kids.  

 3. Paint and decorate diyas with colours, gliters, gota, laces, mirrors and beads.

   

So paint the diyas and light them around your house as you can see handmade diyas look more beautiful and stunning as you light them up and the reflection of small mirror pieces will make your house look more brighter.

4. Diyas look more beautiful by coloring them with different colors and giving them a golden/silver outline.

5. Another use of old cds can be turning them into removable and re-usable rangolis. Just use your creativity with glass paints and glittered outliners and turn you waste cds into a decorative piece this Diwali.

6. Make unique designs on OHP sheets and just place them on the floor with diyas around turning the whole arrangement into a beautiful rangoli.

7. Removable and Re-usable Rangoli. With Old card sheet, some powdered glitter and golden beads string, you can easily make removable and reusable rangoli for your house. These pieces can be arranged and re-arranged whenever and where ever  you want to.

8. Old bangles - now it's their turn! Any guesses what we are making from Old bangles lying in your drawer? - We are turning them into t-light holders. Shining and Sparkling!!!

Although I got this idea through internet but when i started making these glittery t-light holders, I realized mixing and matching the bangles took more time than actually making them. 

9. Floating Rangolis - and now floating rangolis turn. Make your own floating rangolis and decorate even the smallest corner this diwali. Just a floating rangoli, a floating candle and a bowl of water....what a glow!!!

10. Vodka glasses T-light holders. The picture says it all!

And yes, I still love lighting those lovely colorful diyas. 

दीपोंका त्योहार दीवाली। खुशियों का त्योहार दीवाली॥

वनवास पूरा कर आये श्रीराम। अयोध्या के मन भाये श्रीराम।।

घर-घर सजे , सजे हैं आँगन। जलते पटाखे, फ़ुलझड़ियाँ बम।।

लक्ष्मी गणेश का पूजन करें लोग। लड्डुओं का लगता है भोग॥

पहनें नये कपड़े, खिलाते है मिठाई। देखो देखो दीपावली आई॥

So here's wishing everybody very Happy Diwali!!

Come join a set of fabulous bloggers sharing their Diwali moments , easy Crafts, DIY ideas, Recipes and book recommendations with you .

Starting from today till Diwali and beyond, each one of us will be writing a post related to Diwali.

Participating blogs

Artsy Craftsy mom . Reading Rabbits Library . Food and fads . Cherish Dream Live . My little Moppet . On-board the Mommyship . Roohi's Collection . Colours Dekor . Bumps n Baby  . Hello Mommyhood . A spoonfull of ideas . CraftIsland . Perfect Skin care for you . ParentingMantras . Whats Cooking Mom . Orange kitchens . Quilts & Quills . Fun Activities for Children . Something’s cooking . Obsessivemom . The Design Enthusiast . Fantastic Feathers . Little aadi ali

So sit back, relax and check out all the fabulous Diwali Dhamaka posts in the linky.

An InLinkz Link-up

CLAY PLAY

Making fridge magnets, Key chains and lockets with Clay.

This is a very simple activity. I've used No bake homemade salt dough for this activity as it is non-toxic and air dries.

Materials Required

1. Salt Dough

2. Cookie cutter

3. Acrylic colours

4. Glitter glue

5. Clear varnish

6. Ribbons, beads, key chains, hooks, disc magnets or magnetic strips etc.

Step 1: Prepare salt dough - No bake clay

Procedure: Take 1 measure of everyday flour. Mix 1/2 measure of salt. Using warm water and few drops of vegetable oil knead the mixture into chapati dough. This can be kept in an air -tight container or in  a plastic bag

Step 2: Prepare desired shapes - Take a small ball of salt dough. Spread evenly on a flat surface with the help of roller. Using cookie cutter, cut the desired shapes. Make small or big holes depending on what is to be made. For fridge magnet, press a piece of magnet at the back of the shape. 

Step 3: Leave them out in the sun (or under the fan) for drying. On drying these shapes will become very hard.

Step 4: Colour them with Acrylic colours and leave it to dry for around 30 mins. On drying put a coat of varnish to give it an extra sheen. Decorate with glitter glue.

Step 5: For making a key-chain, Put a plastic wire through the small hole. Bead the wire with beads of your choice and a bell. In the end tie a key chain ring to hold the keys. For making a locket, put a coloured ribbon through the centre big hole, tighten it and make a knot....and here you go!!!

For more craft ideas keep following and liking my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/roohi.collection

Have fun with clay!

Roohi's Collection