Want a LIT decor this Diwali? Here’s our complete guide
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From traditional terracotta to copper and soy wax candles to diyas in a coconut shell, here are the shops, online stores and homegrown artistes that will help bring you the light home this festive season.
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The Good Route
Anushree Biswal and Niranjana Oza make products out of dried flowers and leaves, discarded after used as garlands, centre-pieces or collected from temples. The soy wax lamps are topped with marigold and rose petals and poured into terracotta pots. The products are made by former waste pickers from the Ghazipur community.
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Cost: Rs 540 for a box of 8
Shop: thegoodroute.in
Siya Creations
Deepa Walve has something for minimalists—clear, heat-resistant borosilicate glass lamps in the form of diya handis, samais, diffusers, akhand diyas and niranjanas. Available in four sizes, these can be bought via WhatsApp. You are welcome to look at the samples at their Andheri home studio, before buying.
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Cost: Starting at Rs 340
Call: 9819828473
Elvi
In keeping with the resin trend, Vrinda Maheshwari has an entire range of tea light holders made using botanicals, gold foil and resin. You could even commission a customised set for your gift bags. The selection is available online and takes four days to reach you.
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Cost: Starting from Rs 250
SHOP: elvi.co.in
Shraddha Charitable Trust
Autistic and mentally-challenged young adults hand craft these eco-friendly diyas and lanterns that include lotus-shaped tea light holders made from beaten silver, copper or gold metal sheets, and parchment paper lanterns. Shop and make a happy festive season for everyone.
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Cost: Starting Rs 250
SHOP: shraddhamumbai.org
Visit: Jantanagar Municipal School, 4th Floor, Next to Imperial Tower, Tardeo
Suraj Pottery
Never out of style, why should it be? The terracotta diya is eco-friendly, sustainable and handmade. Head to Dharavi’s Kumbhkarwada and ask for Atul Mevada. For 60 years, his family has been making clay diyas in all shapes and sizes, while keeping up with the current trends—check out their hand-printed lamps. Bring a big bag though because as wholesalers, they won’t sell you less than a 100 diyas!
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Cost: Starts at Rs 1 per piece
Address: Kumbharwadi, 90 Feet Road, opposite Shrungar Jewellers, Dharavi
Call: 9930941380
Thenga
When the brand name means coconut in Malayalam, you can expect to find things crafted from every part of the tree. There are coconut-soy wax candles in coconut shells, as well as shell holders that give your home the southern feel.
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Cost: Starting Rs 349
SHOP: thengacoco.com
Tinsel Crafts
Mahima Pawaiya is a paper craft artist, and for this festive edit, she is combining fabric, stonework, and zardozi to create elegant tea light holders and lamps. She also has a good selection of bandhej and cutwork toran and rangoli mats to go with the diyas.
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Cost: Starting Rs 250
Call: 7566683555
Studio Coppre
To help their mission to revive the state’s copper craft industry, you can buy kolam tea lights, rangoli tea lights, kaju/karanji tea lights, copper pods, and other varieties of lamps from them.
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Cost: Starting Rs 500
SHOP: studiocoppre.com
Kalpak Art
Artists Omkar Manchekar, Rupesh Gujar and Sameer Otavkar are bringing back the traditional fabric lanterns, or aakash kandils, using Dharwadi prints with gold borders and satin tassels. Each piece is unique as it is handmade, and if you have a colour combination in mind, don’t hesitate to ask them.
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Cost: Starting Rs 500
Call: 9867436297