Diwali Toran
Diwali is not only about fun making, exchanging gifts and firing crackers. Although all these activities are equally important but apart from these home decorations is also very important activity. On this festive occasion people decorate their houses both externally and internally. The purpose of this decoration is to attract goddess Lakshmi to their houses. Actually, it is believed that goddess Lakshmi enters those houses that are clean and well decorated. Therefore everyone wants to decorate one's house. The Bandanvaar is the one of the important decorative item. Actually while decorating your house, you have to give special importance to the entrance, as it is the place from where everyone enters the house and comes into the eye-focus first of all. The bandanvaar is a door hanging and is hanged at the door or dwaar of the main gate. The Bandanvaar is also called torans. These Torans are the first things that welcome goddess Lakshmi and your guests. There are several kinds of bandanvaars available in the market. You can also make your bandanvaar at your home. Following are some ideas you can use for making Bandanvaars.
Floral Torans : Floral bandanvaars are prepared using colorful seasonal flowers. The flowers of rose and merrygold are commonly used on Diwali. Some people use artificial flowers for making bandanvaars. These last for longer. You just have to wash them with detergent water to remove dust and dry. On the other hand fresh flowers lasts for one or two days only. Both have their own benefits.
Embroidered Torans : These torans are made using pieces of colorful clothes. These pieces are then decorated by doing embroidery with colorful threads. You can embroider different shapes of your choice on the cloth like the shape of elephant, flowers, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, kalash and shubh-labh.
Mirror Work Torans : Mirror work torans are made by taking a piece of bright color cloth and then mirrors of different shapes are attached on the cloth. These mirror work Torans are of Rajasthani culture. At night when lights are on, the mirrors reflect the light and give the marvelous effect at the door.
Dori Bandanvaars : Dori Bandanvaars are made by using multicolor threads of wool or zari. The threads are first twisted together to make Doris. Then some decorative items like pearls, mirrors and decorative plastic pipes of small size are attached with the Doris. These decorative articles give the torans a beautiful look.
Torans of Mango leaves : Mango leaves are tied in a series with a red thread to make torans. These torans are hanged along with floral torans. The mango leaf torans are not very beautiful but are considered very auspicious and are always used in auspicious occasions in Hindu culture. Apart from these home made torans you can also use designer torans available in the market. Some torans are made up of red color cloth and pictures of Lakshmi and Ganesha are created with sparkles on them. These look very beautiful and auspicious at the entrance.
