Diwali decor is no longer restricted to floral floor patterns, little oil lamps and multi-coloured candles. Delightfully imaginative diyas and candles in various shapes and sizes, vibrant colours and designs promise an effect that is stunning enough to illumine your home and your hopes. Expresso goes shop-hopping to check out different kinds of candles and diyas to light up your home on D-day.
The lifestyle stores like @home, stocks diyas that are spell tasteful in a variety of wonderful ways. You can choose to go beyond the traditional earthen diyas or add to the effect by buying candles and candle-stands in different colours and shapes.
The matka diya candles at Westside are decorated with beads and silver zari. The store is also housing diyas in shape of oriental bowls with pretty nature designs on them. Apart from the hand-painted varieties, Pantaloons also has coconut-shaped diyas.
The traditional diya, which was only an object of snuffing out darkness, has now transcended itself into an item of interior decoration. No wonder, this year, we have wick-trays designed in the mould of Lakshmi and Ganesh, floral motifs and also having the shape of a conch shell. The artisans are decorating them in different ways.
Laced with beads and painted with bright colours, a range of designer, ornamental hand made diyas are up for grabs at the Lepakshi Diwali collection, which is being showcased at Lepakshi Export Oriented Showroom in Musheerabad. The prices range from Rs 20 to Rs 12,000. The exhibition is on till October 16 from 10 am to 8 pm. Apart from the designer diyas, the exhibition will have gold and silver coins for sale.
Wax wows
There is no Diwali without traditional diyas and candles. Candles lend a festive mood to the room and capture the Diwali spirit very well. With changing times, candles have become more sophisticated and ornamental.
Candles of the drab white kind are things of the past. From interesting shapes in colourful splashes to floating candles, anything could be your pick. “After all, Diwali is not only about lights; colour and fragrance add to the festive feel,” feels Indira Agarwal of Ferns & Petals.
A bunch of rose-shaped candles in a mat vase, candles with dry flowers and wooden chips, spiral ones in sober violets and pinks, aroma therapy ones, glittered straight candles and ones that look like champagne bottles. Home Centre is home to an endless variety of wax wonders. Tiny candles in myriad shades evoke soothing fragrances of lotus, lavender, mint and rosemary. They come beautifully packed in wooden boxes. Then you have cylindrical candles with flowers and leaves entwined on them. Floating flower candles in multiple colours are definite eye catchers.
The Archies stores offer gel candles in sleek glass containers with artificial fruits and sea motifs inside.
The candles, too, are priced in a varied range, starting from as low as Rs 5 and running into a few thousand for the designer varieties.
Gel candles last longer than their wax counterparts and the drip-free factor is a bonus. At Pantaloons, the range is not elaborate but serves the purpose. Translucent in nature, the base of gel candles are adorned with tiny shells, coloured stones, sea-horses and thermocole fruits, and take the shape of long cylindrical glasses or champagne bottles. They are priced between Rs 25 and Rs 150.
Imported floating candles at Landmark are available in delicate floral designs.
swati@epmltd.com