10 Popular Indian Festivals And Decoration Ideas
India is a melting pot of cultures. All festivals are celebrated with their own traditions and styles. People come together for festivals as an opportunity to socialise and pass on the traditions to future generations.
Diwali is the most popular festival in India, followed by Navratri, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Krishna Janmashtami. Each festival holds significance as it is deeply rooted in mythology, and their celebration is what makes them unique. In this blog, we list 10 popular Indian festivals and decoration ideas to make your home and puja mandir look very much a part of the ongoing celebration.
Note that these festivals have no standard rules for celebration. India is a country of diverse cultures. Each community celebrates these festivals in its own unique way upholding its traditions. It is your duty to pass on this culture to your children by involving them in decorations, preparations, and celebrations. So, let’s tell you about the 10 popular Indian festivals and give you some quick and easy decoration ideas. Let’s dive in and start right away.
1. Navratri
While Diwali is undoubtedly the most popular festival, Navratri is celebrated with equal fervour in India, especially in Bengal and Gujarat.
Navaratri, or Durga Puja, is a significant festival dedicated to Durga Maa. It spans nine nights and celebrates the victory of good over evil. The festival involves elaborate rituals, fasting, devotional music, dance performances, and the worship of the goddess in various forms.
Durga Maa, a Hindu goddess, represents feminine power and is known as the divine mother. She is the warrior form of the goddess Parvati and is often depicted riding a lion and wielding various weapons. Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Durga Maa for her strength, courage, and protection against evil forces.
Decoration ideas for Navratri
When it comes to decorating your home for Navratri, use vibrant colours like red, yellow, and orange. In fact, each day of Navratri signifies the importance of colour. So, you can use decorative paper or cloth garlands in these hues to decorate the puja mandir. Create a backdrop using silk or decorative cloth with intricate patterns.
Place idols of Durga Maa and her various forms, like Kali, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. Paint nine Durga Maa DIY framed canvases in nine different colours representing the nine days of Navratri. This will add a personal touch to the mandir.
Light traditional oil lamps or candles around the mandir. Create an intricate rangoli pattern near the entrance door and decorate it with flowers and diyas.
2. Ganesh Chaturthi
The most loved God, Shree Ganesha, or Vinayaka, is also the most worshipped deity in Hinduism. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is revered as the remover of obstacles (Vignaharta) and the god of wisdom and beginnings.
People all over India, especially in the state of Maharashtra, celebrate his birth by installing a Ganesha idol in their homes and in public places. The festival includes prayers, devotional singing, processions, and the immersion of the Ganesha idol in water bodies like rivers and lakes.
Decoration ideas for Ganesh Chaturthi
Marigold is a popular choice for flower decoration during Ganesh Chaturthi. Use banana leaves to create a decorative backdrop. Hang strings of fresh or artificial modaks (sweet dumplings) as garlands.
Display artistic renditions by painting a Shree Ganesha DIY framed canvas . Hang it as a backdrop for the Ganesha idol. Use fairy lights to illuminate the puja mandir.
3. Krishna Janmashtami
Shree Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, is a revered God in Hinduism. He is depicted as a divine lover, philosopher, and statesman. He is known for his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred book of the Hindus. His role in the epic Mahabharata inspires many to follow the path of Dharma.
Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of Shree Krishna and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Devotees fast, sing devotional songs, engage in dances depicting episodes from Krishna's life, and enact his childhood activities.
Decoration ideas for Krishna Janmashtami
When decorating the puja mandir for Janmashtami, use a combination of bright colours such as blue, yellow, or green. Decorate the mandir with peacock feathers, as they are the accessories associated with Shree Krishna.
If you are creative, buy a Shree Krishna DIY framed canvas , especially one of baby Krishna feasting on butter. Paint and decorate it with embellishments, and hang it on a prominent wall in the puja mandir.
How can the decoration be complete without a small swing or jhula? Place it in the centre of the mandir with a miniature Krishna idol inside it. Decorate the swing with flowers.
Hand a flute-shaped wind chime at the entrance of the mandir. Create a decorative rangoli inside the mandir or near the entrance doorway. Decorate it with flower petals and glitter.
4. Holi
Holi is a popular festival of colours celebrated in India but gradually gaining recognition the world over. This festival is associated with Radhe Krishna and is celebrated in Vrindavan, the place where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood.
Radhe Krishna represents the divine love and eternal bond between Lord Krishna and his love, Radha. Radha is believed to be the personification of love and devotion, while Krishna symbolises divine playfulness and charm.
Holi commemorates their playful interactions and involves throwing coloured powders and water, singing, dancing, and joyous celebrations.
Decoration ideas for Holi
When it comes to decorating your home or puja mandir for Holi, there is no limit on the colours you can use, but make sure they are vibrant and appear beautiful.
Take a piece of white fabric and splatter colours on it. Use this as a backdrop for the walls of your home. You can hang strings of colourful water balloons or make garlands of multi-coloured sarees and dupattas. Repeat the same decoration for the mandir.
Adorn the mandir with fresh flower petals. Create a floral rangoli inside the puja mandir and near the entrance door.
Paint a Radhe Krishna DIY Framed Canvas and decorate it with embellishments such as zari lace, colourful beads, and glitter paint. Place it on the entryway wall above a console table. Decorate the table with intricate flower petal rangoli. Light diyas and place them around the edges of the table.
5. Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is a significant festival dedicated to Mahadev. Shiva, or Mahadev, is regarded as the supreme being. He is considered the cosmic dancer and the lord of meditation and yoga.
Mahadev represents destruction and transformation. On the day of Maha Shivaratri, devotees observe a fast, perform sacred rituals, and stay awake throughout the night, engaging in prayer and meditation.
Decoration ideas for Maha Shivaratri
To decorate your puja mandir for Shivaratri, use white or ash-coloured fabric for the backdrop as a representation of Lord Shiva. Adorn the mandir with rudraksha beads or malas (prayer beads). Use fresh flowers in shades of white and purple.
Place a Shiva lingam as the focal point. Paint a Mahadev Pre-Marked Canvas and decorate it with colourful beads and stones to make it visually appealing. Decorate the frame with LED lights so that it looks powerful and glorious at night.
Complete the look by lighting diyas using ghee or camphor.
6. Vasant Panchami
Saraswati Maa is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. She is revered as the source of creativity and intellectual pursuits. She is often depicted playing a veena (musical instrument) and is associated with learning and education.
Vasant Panchami is a festival dedicated to Saraswati Maa. It celebrates the arrival of spring. It is also the day to initiate learning activities and when students seek blessings for academic success.
Decoration ideas for Vasant Panchami
The festival is marked by prayers, and yellow attire is predominantly worn by all. Set the same tone for decorating your home and puja mandir. Use fabrics in yellow and white to symbolise purity and knowledge.
Use flowers to decorate the mandir and bring freshness to the ambiance. Lighting agarbattis and diyas makes the room feel divine.
Another prominent feature of this festival celebration is the display of musical instruments, books, and artwork associated with learning and art. If you are an artist, you can create a small display of art supplies like paintbrushes, pens, and pencils.
Else, buy a Saraswati Maa DIY Framed Canvas Base and paint and decorate it. Place it in the puja mandir for Vasant Panchami. Displaying your artwork is the best way to thank Sarawati Maa for bestowing you with the art of creativity.
You can also place a beautifully adorned idol of Saraswati Maa and worship it on this day.
7. Chhath Puja
Suryadev, the Sun God, holds immense significance in Hinduism. He is considered the source of light, life, and energy.
Chhath Puja is a festival dedicated to Suryadev and is mainly celebrated in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Devotees offer prayers to the rising and setting sun, worshipping him for vitality, health, and spiritual enlightenment. They perform rituals near rivers and observe fasting.
Decoration ideas for Chhath Puja
If you are planning to decorate your home and puja mandir for Chhath Puja, use bright colours like yellow and orange. You can use fabrics like sarees and dupattas in these colours to create a backdrop resembling a rising sun.
Buy a Suryadev Mandala Canvas and paint it with Mandala dots. You can use mirror embellishments to decorate the frame. Surround it with LED light reels to enhance the brightness of the frame.
Decorate the mandir with marigold garlands and sunflowers. Place a small idol of Suryadev, and worship it with dedication and fervour.
8. Buddha Purnima
Vesak, or Buddha Purnima, is a major festival Buddhists celebrate in India and worldwide. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. The festival involves meditation, the chanting of Buddhist scriptures, and acts of kindness and charity.
Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama, is revered as the founder of Buddhism and is considered an enlightened being who achieved Nirvana, the ultimate state of liberation from suffering.
Decoration ideas for Budhha Purnima
Buddhism is associated with serenity, and the best way to decorate the puja mandir on Vesak is to use soft, calming colours like white, blue, or gold.
Place a serene Buddha statue as the focal point. You can also buy a Buddha DIY framed canvas and paint it to give the mandir a personalised touch.
Use Buddhist symbols such as the Dharma Wheel or Lotus inside the mandir. Next, hang prayer flags or banners with Buddhist scriptures.
To give a calming effect to your home, arrange flowers, particularly lotus flowers, in the living room. Arrange them in a tray with a miniature Buddha statue and place scented candles on it. Place this tray at the entrance console table or at the living room’s centre table.
Remember to switch on some soothing meditation prayers throughout the day to complete the ambiance.
9. Annakut
Shreenathji, also known as Shrinathji or Shri Nathdwara, is a form of Lord Krishna. He is worshipped as the infant Krishna who appeared in the village of Nathdwara in Rajasthan, India. Annakut, also known as Govardhan Puja, is a festival dedicated to Shreenathji.
On this day, devotees offer a mountain-like arrangement of food items as a symbol of appreciation and gratitude for Shreenathji, revered as the embodiment of love and devotion.
Decoration ideas for Annakut
Decorate your puja mandir with fresh flowers and garlands. Use colourful fabric or paper to create a backdrop resembling a temple or scenic view.
Next, place a miniature idol of Shreenathji in the centre. A better idea is to hand-paint a Shreenathji With Lotus Pre-Marked Canvas and place it in the mandir.
Decorate the mandir with abundant fresh fruits, vegetables, and sweets arranged in a pyramid-like structure. Lighting scented candles or incense sticks create a divine ambiance.
10. Brahmotsavam
South or North, there is hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of Balaji, also known as Lord Venkateshwara or Tirupati Balaji. Considered a form of Lord Vishnu, Balaji is believed to be the preserver and protector of the universe and is revered for his compassion and grace.
Brahmotsavam is a grand festival celebrated at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, the southern state of India, dedicated to Balaji. It spans several days and involves elaborate rituals, processions, music, and dance performances.
Decoration ideas for Brahmotsavam
If you are one of the many who worship Tirupati Balaji, decorate your puja mandir on Brahmotsavam in hues of golden and orange. Use fabrics to cover the walls of the mandir. Adorn the wall with fresh flowers, especially marigolds and jasmine. Hang a hand-painted Balaji Pre-Marked Canvas at the centre of the backdrop.
Next, place a beautifully adorned idol of Lord Balaji in the mandir and light traditional oil diyas near it.
Use decorative brass or silver bells and hang them at the entrance of the puja mandir. You can decorate your living room or entryway with flower garlands. Place a huge brass lamp in a corner of the living room and decorate its base with flower petal rangoli.
Wrapping Up
These are the 10 most popular festivals in India and their significance. Follow the decoration ideas we have given here to celebrate the festival with spirituality and joy.
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