How to save on Diwali decorations?

Festivals bring happiness, joy and prosperity and each festival has its own way of celebration. Diwali or the “festival of lights” is celebrated with much grandeur and style, people make a lot of effort in decorating their houses with designer or clay oil lamps, door hangings, candles, flowers, etc. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits houses during Diwali and showers her blessings to the clean and bright houses.

The two months of October and November bring two major festivals of the year – Durga Puja and Diwali, and it’s very crucial time for households as they hugely spend on buying new clothes, gifts, sweets, home decoration and other related expenses. As Diwali is round the corner, here are few tips to decorate your house in a cost-effective manner:

Buy clay diyas

During Diwali, the market is flooded with different varieties of diyas starting from designer oil lamps, colourful metal diyas, clay diyas, etc. The more fancy the diya, the more expensive it is. Rather spending on those expensive fancy diyas, you can always opt for the clay ones that are readily available in every nook and corner during the festive season.

Use of old newspapers/craft papers to make lanterns

There is nothing like decorating your house with colorful lanterns. You can use old newspapers or old craft papers to make colorful lanterns to decorate the house.

Floating candles & aromatic flower petals

This is very simple, yet enhances aesthetics of your house in any festive decorations. Take a clay or glass pot filled with water and adorn it with floating candles, flowers, rose petals, floating diyas. You can also use colourful scented flowers that leave an aromatic fragrance in the house and enhance the look of the pot.

Door hangings or wall hangings

Traditionally, mango leaves and flowers were used for door or wall hangings. You can as well use leaves and flowers to decorate your house entrance or you can use different door hangings available in the market with goddess images on it.

Curtains

Colourful curtains add brightness to the house and bring out the festive mood. Instead of buying new shiny, fancy curtains, you can recycle and use your old saree, dresses, old dupattas and create your own style.

Rangoli

Rangoli are colourful patterns or designs made using rice flour, coloured chalk, vermillion, turmeric powder, flowers, etc. Putting nice big rangolis is the best way of decoration as it does not cost you much. You can as well try putting some glitters or small round-shaped mirrors on the designs to add shine to it.

Make home-made sweets

You can save a lot by making sweets at home instead of buying sweets from the markets. You can use this as a wonderful medium to bring all your family members together and engage them in mithai-making.

Buy products in sale

Diwali is a time where the market is flooded with sales whether it is electronic gadgets or clothes. Here is a caution – don’t get lured by this “Festive bonanza sale”, buy things which you need.

Spend wisely

“Spend wisely” is the mantra during every festival. Before stepping out for shopping, make a list of things you need to buy and try to stick to your list throughout your shopping.