The fun, dance, shlokas, celebration, joy and sweets mark the arrival of Lord Ganesha in our homes. It’s not just the Maharashtrians, but the whole country celebrates the festive occasion of Ganeshotsav with extreme zest.
Every year we think of new and innovative ways to decorate our house in order to please the deity. Ganpati is the time to go all creative and come up with innovative decor ideas that not just look great but are also easy on our pocket. But sometimes due to our busy schedules we have to settle for what’s available in the market and spend a good deal of our money. In either way the spirit of this festival remains high in the hearts of all devotees calling Ganpati Bappa Maurya!!
We, at the Royale, bring you some fun and creative ideas to give you a head start and then it’s all up to you to take your creativity to another level.
Yes, the regular plastic/glass bottles that usually end up in the dustbin can be used creatively. Use glass or plastic bottles to create a grand background for the Ganesha idol.
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Arrange the bottles as shown in the picture and use glue to keep the bottles in place. Now if you add a little lighting, the delightful decor will sweep your guests off their feet.
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Coconut shells don’t need to be thrown away. You can put them to some good use and create large coconut figures by sticking them to baskets using card boards and glue. You know the best part of this organic decor is that it doesn’t add to the pollution. This helping you contribute your bit towards an eco-friendly way of celebrating Ganpati.
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Yes, your indoor plants can also add an essence of freshness and greenery to the overall decor.
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You can use bamboo plants or other ornamental plants and arrange them in a way that compliments the overall decor.
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What can be a better way of home decor at Ganpati than fresh and pure flowers? Choose various flowers of different shades and arrange them in beautiful patterns. You can arrange them in the form of bouquets or on the top of the makhar (mandap).
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Ever thought that newspapers or magazines could be of any use in your Ganpati décor? Well, you can definitely use them for an innovative decor that will leave people astonished.
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You can also try using colourful craft paper and cut out beautiful flowers that will add an entirely different feel to your decor. You can conveniently find everything you need to bring out the craft expert in you on Amazon, and by using the amazing Amazon offers you can even save big on all your purchases this Ganpati.
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Why restrict ourselves to just decorating walls or using a makhar? What’s better? Spread some colours on the floor too. Make beautiful rangolis using colours available in the market or use rice flour mixed with different colours to go the eco-friendly way.
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In fact, you can also use the petals of flowers to make colourful and interesting rangoli patterns.
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Aarti Thalis are often overlooked and only a few people consider decorating their aarti thalis to compliment the whole decor. You can use different grains (even colour them using water colours) and make beautiful patterns by attaching them to the thali using glue.
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Your colourful scarves and dupattas can be used to create a nice and interesting background for the Ganpati decor.
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Just keep in mind to choose colours that complement each other. You can also tie them to the pillars or in the centre to form a nice fall.
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When the lights are dim or turned off, lightings and diyas spell their magic. You can light wax diyas, but the oil ones give a whole more holy feel to the entire thing.
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Decorative lighting garlands that we use during Diwali can also be used to light the Ganpati makhar.
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Using cardboards and mount boards, you can let yourself go all creative and innovative. From an ingenious tree symbolising the importance of greenery in our ecosystem to royal makhars, you can craft what you like.
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In fact you can also involve your kids and they would for sure give ideas that would never cross our mind.
I am sure with these simple yet effective decor ideas, you will definitely welcome your Ganpati to a beautifully adorned place. While you implement one of these ideas for decoration, how about trying out ‘modak’ recipes as well? Yes, here we list 5 Ukadiche Modak Recipes you ought to try!!!
11. Decorate Ganapati Mandap with Cane Baskets
Have you run out of unique decor ideas? No worries. Even the humble cane baskets can prove to be great allies for decorating the Ganapati mandap in a spectacular fashion. Get one big cane basket and 10-15 of smaller yet complimenting ones. Hang these baskets upside down from the ceiling with strings and colourful paper wrapped balls. Also, use cane partitions and cane mats for building the makhar, as you can see in the photo, for a thematically balanced look. Banana leaves peeping above the cane partitions can add a soothing rustic touch to this decor.
Image credits – pinimg.com
12. Brighten up Your Ganapati Makhar with Pinwheels
Remember the pinwheels from childhood that used to rotate whenever a light breeze blew? The same can be used for decorating Bappa’s makhar in a playful and vibrant manner. Get colourful papers, used for art and craft, in bright hues of neon green, yellow, red, orange and violet to make your decoration stand out. Fold them to make circular and half-circular pinwheels and paste them either on the back-wall of the mandap or cover the entire mandap with them.
13. Scripture Boards for a Serene Look
For a more calm, serene and elegant Ganesh Puja decor make your own scripture boards by pasting gold or metallic tinted paper on cardboard pieces. You can also use metallic spray paint on normal piece of papers for giving them an impressive golden or silver shine. Write with poster colours on top of the boards in the ancient handwriting style found in scriptures. You may even use special slokas dedicated to Ganapati on the scripture boards. Tall diyas on both sides of the deity will complete the look.
14. Ganapati Puja Decoration with Glass Bulbs and Infinity Mirror
Not every home has sufficient space for elaborate Ganesh Puja decorations. But, that’s no reason to be disheartened. You can easily spark up your Ganapati decorations by getting an infinity mirror on the wall right above the deity. In addition, fill empty light bulbs with sands, colourful stones or water, turn them into small vases for ornamental flowers and stick them to the wall with transparent tapes.
15. Hard-Paper Boat Mandap for Ganapati
This year build a magnificent paper boat for the Lord Ganesh to sit within and be worshipped. For this project you will need hard paper, some fabric and a long stick. Hard-paper is often used for art & craft projects in schools and easily found in stationary shops. Make the outer body of the boat by folding hard-paper. For the mast either fabric or hard-paper can be used along with a long stick to hold it upright. You can also paint the mast or decorate it with beads for a more gorgeous look. Take inspiration from the photo above.
16. Ganesh Chaturthi Decoration with Electric Tea Light Candles
Candles have always been one of the favourite exponents of decoration. However, real candles can accidentally set fire on your puja mandap causing disaster plus they spill wax which is tough to clean. In comparison, electric tea light candles are both cost-effective and hassle-free options. Fill copper bowls and cauldrons with lots of rose petals and place the electric candles on top of them. Arrange the vessels in beautiful designs on the floor around the Ganapati idol for a mesmerising outcome. Such decor is sure to fetch you oodles of compliments.
17. Ganapati Decoration with Kalasha and Garland Strings
Simple things can go a long way to make your Ganapati decorations breathtakingly beautiful, like the metal kalashas. Get twelve to fourteen same sized copper Kalashas for Ganesh puja decor this year. Fill each kalasha with blooming flowers or decorative leaves and hang them with strips of rope at different heights from the dark wooden frame of the main makhar. Use two decorative kalashas on either side of the idol as well. Take long strands of garlands made of yellow marigolds and hang them behind the idol of Lord Ganesh as well as on the two sides of the mandap for a marvellous effect.
18. Ganesh Puja Décor Done with Kaliren
Do you want to try something out-of-box? Have you seen the dazzling bunch of kaliren that Punjabi brides hang from their bridal bangles on the day of their weddings? The same can be used for decorating your Ganesh puja mandap exotically. Use a wooden frame with wooden poles jutting out for making the mandap. Decorate the frame and poles with colorful beads, shells and tie the golden kaliren on them at regular intervals. Your mandap will be promptly ready to stun the throngs of guests and worshippers.
19. Make a Royal Bed for Bappa this Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesh visits and adorns your home only once a year. Why not give him a regal place to rest?! This year you can make him a soft and fabulous bed oozing royal splendour. Foam and sponge are the materials of choice for building the bed with ply or wooden structure underneath. Get some net fabric to decorate it along with traditional decorative jhumars. Lay the deity on a mattress made of velvet coverings.
20. Decorate Ganesh Mandap with Thermocol Clouds, Stars and Moon
Create a dream like makhar for Ganapati Bappa by using thermocol and cotton balls. First you have to draw and paint layers of clouds on the bluish sky and use it as a back drop. Then cut thermocol sheets into the shapes of different sized clouds, stars and a lovely new moon. The stars and the moon will be pasted on the back drop. But, the thermocol clouds you have to arrange in layers all over the puja platform. Cover the ground of the mandap using cotton balls and gum. Cover the cotton with cellophane paper for a glimmering effect. Sprinkle loads of glitter to make the decoration shine and glisten like a starry sky with floating clouds.
21. Fruit and Vegetable Makhar for Lord Ganapati
If you have the zeal and passion for crafting a Ganesh puja mandap that people will remember for ages, then take cue from the kitchen. The vegetables and fruits we consume daily can be used in an astounding fashion to decorate the Ganapati makhar. You will need okra, black and green grapes, peas, beans and brinjal for executing this idea. Chop the okras, cut the brinjals and string the grapes and peas to decorate the pillars of the mandap. Hang the strings of grapes and peas in the shape of toran on the upper front side of the mandap. Longer strings of peas can be hanged parallel to each other for making a curtain at the mandap’s back-side opening. No doubt visitors will shower accolades on you at seeing such brilliant craftsmanship.
22. Embellish the Makhar of Ganesha with Peacock Feathers
Our national bird peacock is revered all over the world for its magnificent feathers. Why not use the peacock feathers for adding a special charm to the Ganesh mandap as well? Start by placing folded red or maroon Benarasi Sari on the floor of the puja platform. You can then attach the ornate feathers just behind the seat of the deity in a half circular arrangement. It is better still if you use a golden backdrop for the deity, made of paper or fabric, to highlight the exuberance of the peacock feathers some more. You may also add thermocol cutouts of two peacocks, colour them and place them in front of the deity’s throne for a more impressive outcome. Use pearls for embellishing the borders of Ganesha’s seat and the necks of the peacocks.
23. Snow Capped Mountain Theme for Ganapati Makhar
Those of you desiring a thematic decor might enjoy making snowcapped mountain and starry sky makhar for the beloved Lord Ganesh. You have to get oodles of cotton and arrange them in a heap to make mountains of snow. You may use a simple pyramid like wooden structure and cover it with cotton and gum for this purpose too. Take a midnight blue silk cloth and hang it right behind the idol’s seat. Use small mirrors and small LED lights for making the star clad night scene. Add two flood lights on the floor and be ready to relish all the praise that comes your way.
24. Construct One of a Kind Ganapati Makhar with Paper Quelling
Paper quelling is an amazing art that can be utilised for constructing a truly exclusive Ganesh mandap. You can use an array of quelled patterns and different coloured papers so your mandap stands a class apart from the rest. Get different shades of green papers for making leaves with quelling technique to create a tree makhar for Ganapati. Additionally, use ice-blue quelled papers and paste them with glue on the platform around the deity’s seat like an icy carpet. You can also envelope his seat by pasting paper quelled structures on them. See the photos for reference.
25. Ganapati Mandap Made of Leaf Plates and Bowls
The wisdom of Siddhivinayak tells us that it’s not expensive ornaments but well-conceived ideas that get the limelight. This year try making your Ganapati mandap with plates and bowls made of dry leaves of the Sal tree. Adjoin the leaf bowls on top of the flat plates for creating texture. Make holes on the backs of some of the leaf bowls for inserting colourful lighting fixtures, illuminating the decoration further. You can apply glitter colours on the bowls and make beautiful shapes out of them like the holy symbol Om.
