Here’s how to make your own festive torans and door décor using materials you likely already have at home.
With Ganeshotsav already underway and Navratri and Diwali not far behind, doorways across Indian homes are about to get their annual festive makeover, and there’s genuinely no need to rush out and buy a ready-made toran when most of what you need is probably already sitting around the house. A toran, that traditional door-hanging meant to welcome both gods and guests, has been made from whatever was available for generations: fresh leaves, flowers, scraps of fabric, and string. With a little time and creativity, you can put together something genuinely beautiful and entirely personal without spending a rupee on store-bought decor. Here’s how to make your own festive torans and door décor using materials you likely already have at home. Marigolds are practically synonymous with Indian festivals, prized not just for their vivid orange and yellow hues but for the symbolic positive energy they’re believed to bring into a home. If you have loose marigold flowers on hand, or can pick some up cheaply from a local flower market, simply thread the flower heads onto string using a needle, alternating with mango leaves if you’d like a more traditional, layered look. It’s a simple project that pays off with genuinely vibrant, fragrant results right at your entrance. This is easily the most budget-friendly and kid-friendly option on the list. Cut coloured paper, old newspaper, or even magazine pages into small triangular or leaf-shaped pieces, then string them together along a length of thread using a needle or simple glue. It’s a genuinely lovely activity to do together as a family, and the finished toran, however imperfect, carries a homemade charm that’s hard to buy in any store. For a toran with a bit more texture and sound, gather small bells, leftover tassels, beads, or even buttons you have lying around, and string them along a base of thread or thin rope in a pattern that appeals to you. The gentle jingle of bells as your door opens and closes adds a lovely sensory touch to the festive atmosphere, and this style works particularly well layered underneath a floral or leaf toran for a fuller, more elaborate finished look.