One of the much awaited festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi is finally arriving. What was once celebrated with great pomp and joy of devotees gathering and collectively celebrating the arrival of Ganesha has now been limited to the space of our homes due to the prevailing COVID-19. Nevertheless, the 10-day celebration brings family members together, right from decorating the house to singing aartis and bhajans.
With just a couple of days left for the arrival of our beloved Bappa, SURFACES REPORTER (SR) has put together a few tips and quick hacks from industry experts to revamp your space for the festivity. Happy decorating!
The Switch in Celebration
Punam Kalra, Interior Designer and Creative Director, I'm The Centre For Applied Arts adds, “Pandemic festivals have grown to be more intimate and close-knit, glorifying the small spaces and their homely vibe. The introverted twist in the celebrations focus on finding joy in the simpler things in life—minimal themes and hygge lifestyles are embraced by people all around the country. Although, a certain part of this new lifestyle tends to miss the laughter-filled gatherings, the ring of bajans, exchange of modaks and other peculiar Ganesh puja scenes.”
Ganesh Chaturthi has an esthetic tone of its own. According to Kalra, the puja mandates as in mandaps, torans, etc are sure to fill a major part of the decor but the secret lies in the details. “Fruit baskets become the new centrepieces, while the string lights exclusive to festivals add accents to the regular ambient lighting of the homes.”
Niraj Johri, Founder, Casa Decor believes that within home furnishing, new beginnings must be about using unconventional methods as a catalyst to add a breath of fresh air into a home. Further, this means diverting from the conventional design ideas such as using fake plants to decorate the home or using fairy lights to beautifying the walls by using organic products with multipurpose utility.
That said, Haritha Singh, Founder, Guddee– a design studio and e-commerce platform – urges consumers to move toward traditional handcrafted products. “Handicraft products are unique and a touch of warmth. Unlike plastic products which are mass produced, handicraft items resonte the true essence of festival,” she cites.
Go green
The best way to commence the celebrating of Lord Ganesha is by incorporating green. Michelle Williamson, Interior Designer, WoodenStreet suggests that adding green to the space will not only add an aesthetic touch to the decor but infuse fresh air into Bappa’s home. “Gather all the plants at the area where you have decided to keep your Ganesha and make a green home for Him. You can use your creativity by keeping the plants in stylish metal planters or small planters according to the available space,” she adds. For Kalra, a lasting statement comes from a striking idol—where sustainable options can be explored with organic-dyed or un-coloured clay idols.
Modern day puja
In the wake of the pandemic, Kalra believes that the modern day puja setup is incomplete without sanitising points, socially distanced seats and free mask kiosks. There are virtual celebrations—online meetings are set in a central frame and the numbered guests can be a part of a thoughtful celebration, with the same love and affection as ever. “The pandemic celebrations are only a reminder of kindness and gratitude that long for hosting a festival that is safe and undisturbed,” she adds.
The mandap setup
The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete without a designated and beautiful chowki or home temple. While Williamson suggests choosing a chowki wisely that goes well with your puja room interiors, Kalra advices to experiment with lattice screens—a carved wooden jali or an embossed frame—or decorative folk-art curtains in handwoven fabric.
Johri and Singh, who co-creates products that are multifunctional, suggest opting for setups that serve multipurpose features. “Indian consumers are purchasing multipurpose items that do not need to be shelved after a few days. Natural variations occurring in stone cut or wood cut turntables may be used as puja chowkis. Their multipurpose nature allows them to be used as decorative pieces across homes. In fact, while the cheap chowkis bought from local markets had been normalised, traditional wood or metal cut turntables are the best examples of authentic practices and quality,” adds Johri.
Festive accessories
While Singh recommends opting for eco-friendly, multipurpose festive products such as Guddee's sheesham-made tea light holder-cum-wall or table decor, Kalra ideates decorative experimentation with choices between tasselled handicrafts and minimal origami details which draws the fine line between the traditional and modern decor choices.An unmissable layer of hanging diyas, bells or flowers with a standout arch frame or modest wooden alcoves, wraps up the aesthetic of a contemporary at-home home Ganesh puja decor. Johri adds, “In order for people to maximise the spaces within their homes and allow the decorative lights to reflect off surfaces, it is recommended that they make use of wall hangings that support the use of mirrors. Mirror, within the constraints of design, is understood as a material that helps spread positivity by reflecting bright light.”
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Images: Punam Kalra, The Centre For Applied Arts, Niraj Johri, Founder, Casa Decor, Haritha Singh, Founder, Guddee