Diwali Torans

Apart from crackers and festivities, Diwali festival is also popular for the renovation and decoration of one’s home. The main idea behind the custom of decorating the homes and offices on Diwali is to please and attract the Goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi as it is popularly said that she enters only in a clean and decorated home. Thus apart from the entire home, the decoration of the entrance of a place, which is called 'dwaar', also becomes very important. The beautiful door hangings that are called 'Bandanwaar', or even torans, have special significance as the decorative accessories in Diwali festivities.

These bandanwaars (torans) are the first thing that welcomes your guests as they step at your place. These door hangings not only enhance the charm of the main entrance of your home but also give a friendly welcome to those who drop in to wish you on Diwali. You can make these bandanwaars at your home. However, if you do not have any idea about making them, you can also buy it from the market where varieties of bandanwaars are available. Floral bandanwaars, mirror work torans, embroidered door hangings and dori bandanwaars are few of the available options.

Bandanwaars (Torans)

Floral Bandanwaars
These torans are made with colorful flowers. The flowers that are used in making toran could be fresh or artificial. The bandanwaars made of artificial flowers are of reusable nature while fresh flowers get dry in few days.

Mirror Work Bandanwaars
The mirror work torans are the speciality of Rajasthani culture. These door hangings are made on a piece of cloth and decorated by attaching lovely mirror pieces to that cloth piece. The mirror pieces could be in various shapes and sizes.

Embroidered Bandanwaars
These torans are again made on small cloth pieces. The cloth pieces are decorated with different color embroidery threads. Many attractive shapes are embroidered on the toran like elephants, camels, 'kalash', 'shubh-labh', happy diwali, flowers and many more.

Dori Bandanwaars
Using the variety of threads, like wool and zari, makes these torans. They are prepared by attaching many pieces of threads, called 'doris' twisting together. When the doris are weaved together then some decorative accessories are also attached to the toran to make it more beautiful.