India is often called the land of festivals—a true melting pot of cultures, traditions, and celebrations. Every festival here is marked by its own unique rituals, colors, and significance. Beyond joy, festivals are moments where families and communities come together, strengthen bonds, and pass down age-old traditions to the younger generation.
Among the countless celebrations, Diwali remains the most widely celebrated, followed by Navratri, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Janmashtami, and many more. Each carries deep roots in mythology and is celebrated distinctively across regions.
In this guide, we bring you 10 popular Indian festivals along with creative decoration ideas that blend tradition with hands-on craft activities using DIY Ceramic Art Sets, DIY Candle Making kits, DIY Greeting Cards, and DIY Mosaic Art Kits.
1. Navratri
While Diwali may be the brightest festival of lights, Navratri is celebrated with equal grandeur, particularly in Gujarat and Bengal. Known as Durga Puja in the east, this nine-night festival honors Maa Durga and her victory over evil forces. The celebration is filled with devotional songs, energetic dance performances like Garba and Dandiya, rituals, fasting, and beautifully adorned pandals.
Maa Durga, the warrior goddess and motherly protector, is often depicted riding a lion and carrying divine weapons. She embodies feminine strength, courage, and resilience, making Navratri a powerful symbol of good triumphing over evil.
Decoration Ideas for Navratri:
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Play with festive colors: Each day of Navratri is associated with a special color. Use vibrant fabrics like silk or cotton in shades of red, yellow, green, or blue to create a colorful backdrop for your puja mandir.
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Adorn the mandir: Place idols or framed pictures of Maa Durga and her forms—Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali. For a personal touch, paint nine mini canvases in different colors, each representing a day of Navratri, and arrange them around the mandir.
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Light up the space: Decorate with traditional diyas, tea lights, or DIY Candle Making kits to add glow.
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to create a divine glow.
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Rangoli magic: Draw intricate rangoli patterns near the entrance and embellish them with fresh flowers and diyas to welcome positive energy.
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Floral touches: Use marigold or rose garlands to decorate doors, windows, and the puja space for a festive and fragrant vibe.
Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with DIY Ganesha Mosaic Art
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most loved festivals in India, celebrated with devotion and grandeur. Lord Ganesha—also known as Vinayaka or Vignaharta—is revered as the remover of obstacles, the harbinger of wisdom, and the god of new beginnings. This auspicious festival, especially popular in Maharashtra, is marked by daily prayers, devotional songs, and the grand ritual of Visarjan, where beautifully crafted Ganesha idols are immersed in water, symbolizing his return to the divine abode.
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This Ganesh Chaturthi, make your celebrations more creative and memorable with DIY Ganesha Mosaic Art. Our DIY Mosaic Art Kit lets you craft your own intricate Ganesha designs, combining spirituality with hands-on creativity—perfect for all ages and skill levels.
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Decoration Ideas for Ganesh Chaturthi:
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1. Floral Grandeur: Adorn your mandir with fresh marigold garlands, considered highly auspicious for Ganesha. Enhance the look by using banana leaves as a natural backdrop.
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2. Sweet Charm: Hang decorative modak strings (Ganesha’s favorite sweet) to create a festive and colorful atmosphere.
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3. Artistic Vibes: Use a DIY Ganesha Mosaic Art Kit to create a framed mosaic of Lord Ganesha. Place it behind your idol as a stunning artistic backdrop that also doubles as a keepsake.
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4. Illumination: Brighten your mandir with fairy lights, diyas, or small lanterns, creating a serene yet festive glow. Pair this with your DIY Mosaic Art to make the mandir visually enchanting.
Bring a personal touch to your Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations with our DIY Mosaic Art Kits. Craft your own masterpiece, involve family members, and cherish the creative journey while honoring Lord Ganesha.
3. Krishna Janmashtami
Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, holds a cherished place in Hinduism as the divine lover, philosopher, and eternal guide. His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita continue to inspire humanity to walk the path of truth and righteousness.
Janmashtami, marking Krishna’s birth, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India. Devotees fast, sing bhajans, perform dances that depict episodes from Krishna’s playful childhood, and recreate his charming pastimes such as stealing butter or playing the flute.
Decoration Ideas for Krishna Janmashtami:
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Colorful mandir décor: Use vibrant shades of blue, yellow, and green—the colors most associated with Krishna’s attire and aura.
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Peacock feather elegance: Decorate the mandir with peacock feathers, one of the most iconic symbols of Krishna.
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Creative artwork: Paint or display a DIY framed canvas of baby Krishna feasting on butter and embellish it with beads or sequins for a festive touch. Also you may use DIY Ceramic Art Set.
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Sacred swing (Jhula): Place a small decorative swing in the mandir, seat a miniature idol of baby Krishna on it, and adorn it with fresh flowers.
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Musical charm: Hang a flute-shaped wind chime at the entrance to symbolize Krishna’s divine music.
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Festive rangoli: Create a rangoli design at the doorway or inside the mandir, enhanced with flower petals and a hint of glitter for sparkle.
4. Holi
Known as the festival of colours, Holi is one of India’s most joyful celebrations and has now gained global recognition. Rooted in the divine love of Radha and Krishna, Holi is celebrated most vibrantly in Vrindavan, the town where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood.
Radha symbolizes unconditional love and devotion, while Krishna embodies charm and playful mischief. Their eternal bond inspires Holi’s traditions—splashing vibrant colors, singing, dancing, and rejoicing in togetherness.
Decoration Ideas for Holi:
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Play with colours: Splatter bright hues on a piece of white fabric to create a striking backdrop for your living room or mandir.
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Festive garlands: Use colorful sarees, dupattas, or DIY Greeting Cards as décor.
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Floral touch: Scatter fresh flower petals around the mandir and create a lively rangoli at the entrance.
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Artistic vibe: Paint a Radha-Krishna DIY framed canvas, embellish it with beads, zari lace, or glitter, and place it above a console table. Surround the setup with diyas and intricate petal rangolis for a radiant look.
5. Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is one of the most sacred festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva—Mahadev, the cosmic dancer, destroyer, and supreme yogi. Shiva represents transformation, inner strength, and meditation. On this night, devotees fast, perform rituals, and stay awake in prayer, chanting mantras and meditating till dawn.
Decoration Ideas for Maha Shivaratri:
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Spiritual colors: Use white or ash-colored fabrics as a backdrop, symbolizing purity and detachment.
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Sacred elements: Decorate the mandir with rudraksha beads, malas, and fresh flowers in white and purple.
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Shiva Lingam centerpiece: Place a Shiva lingam as the focal point and surround it with flowers.
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Art & illumination: Paint a Mahadev pre-marked canvas, embellish it with stones or beads, and frame it with LED lights for a divine glow at night.
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Sacred lighting: Light diyas with ghee or camphor to complete the spiritual atmosphere.
6. Vasant Panchami
Dedicated to Maa Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, art, music, and knowledge, Vasant Panchami marks the arrival of spring. Students and devotees seek her blessings to attain learning, creativity, and clarity of thought. She is often depicted playing the veena, symbolizing harmony and wisdom.
Decoration Ideas for Vasant Panchami:
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Yellow & white décor: Dress up the mandir with fabrics in yellow and white—the signature colors of Saraswati Maa.
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Floral freshness: Use marigold, lilies, or roses to adorn the puja space. Light agarbattis and diyas to create a divine aura.
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Artistic offerings: Place books, musical instruments, or art supplies in the mandir as offerings, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge.
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DIY creativity: Paint a Saraswati Maa framed canvas and display it in your puja space as a gesture of gratitude for her blessings.
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Idol worship: Place a beautifully adorned idol of Saraswati Maa at the center of your decorations.
7. Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a festival devoted to Surya Dev, the Sun God—worshipped as the source of life, energy, and well-being. Celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, devotees offer prayers to the rising and setting sun while observing strict rituals and fasts near rivers or water bodies.
Decoration Ideas for Chhath Puja:
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Sunrise hues: Use sarees or dupattas in bright shades of orange and yellow to create a backdrop that symbolizes the rising sun.
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Artistic frame: Paint a Suryadev mandala canvas with intricate dot designs and embellish it with mirrors. Frame it with LED lights for a radiant effect.
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Floral offerings: Decorate the mandir with marigold garlands and sunflowers to represent vitality.
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Sacred setup: Place a small idol of Surya Dev at the center and worship with devotion, accompanied by offerings of fruits and flowers.
8. Buddha Purnima
Also known as Vesak, Buddha Purnima is celebrated to honor the birth, enlightenment, and Nirvana of Gautama Buddha. The day is observed with meditation, chanting, charity, and spreading kindness. Buddha, revered as the enlightened one, symbolizes compassion, peace, and liberation from suffering.
Decoration Ideas for Buddha Purnima:
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Calming colors: Use soft tones like white, golden, or light blue to create a serene backdrop.
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Buddha statue centerpiece: Place a calm Buddha idol in the mandir. Alternatively, paint a Buddha DIY framed canvas for a personalized touch.
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Symbolic décor: Add Buddhist symbols such as the Dharma Wheel, Lotus, or prayer flags around the space.
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Peaceful arrangements: Place lotus flowers and scented candles in decorative trays at your home entrance or living room center table.
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Soothing ambiance: Play soft Buddhist chants or meditation music throughout the day to maintain a calming atmosphere.
9. Annakut
Shreenathji—also known as Shrinathji or Shri Nathdwara—is a beloved form of Lord Krishna, worshipped in the town of Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Depicted as the child Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill, Shreenathji symbolizes divine love, protection, and devotion.
Annakut, also called Govardhan Puja, is dedicated to Shreenathji. On this day, devotees prepare and offer a grand spread of food, often arranged in a mountain-like form, as a gesture of gratitude for Krishna’s blessings and as a symbol of abundance.
Decoration Ideas for Annakut:
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Floral décor: Decorate the mandir with garlands of marigolds, roses, and jasmine for a fresh, fragrant ambiance.
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Temple-like backdrop: Use colorful fabrics or handcrafted paper art to create a scenic temple backdrop for the puja space.
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Sacred centerpiece: Place a miniature idol of Shreenathji at the center, or paint a Shreenathji with Lotus pre-marked canvas and display it in your mandir.
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Food offering arrangement: Arrange fresh fruits, vegetables, and sweets in a pyramid-like structure to symbolize Mount Govardhan.
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Divine ambiance: Light incense sticks, scented candles, or oil diyas to create a serene and spiritual atmosphere.
10. Brahmotsavam
One of the grandest temple festivals in India, Brahmotsavam is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, popularly known as Tirupati Balaji—a revered form of Lord Vishnu. Worshipped as the preserver and protector of the universe, Balaji is believed to shower compassion, grace, and prosperity on his devotees.
The festival is celebrated with grandeur at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Spanning several days, it features elaborate rituals, vibrant processions, music, and dance, attracting millions of devotees from across the globe.
Decoration Ideas for Brahmotsavam:
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Sacred colors: Decorate your puja mandir with fabrics in shades of golden and orange to reflect prosperity and divine energy.
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Floral splendor: Adorn the walls and backdrop with marigold and jasmine garlands. Place a hand-painted Balaji pre-marked canvas at the center of the mandir.
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Idol setup: Place a beautifully adorned idol of Lord Balaji and surround it with glowing diyas for a divine effect.
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Traditional elements: Hang decorative brass or silver bells at the mandir entrance. Place a large brass lamp in the living room corner, encircled by a flower-petal rangoli.
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Festive touch: Use garlands to decorate doorways and living spaces, creating a welcoming atmosphere filled with devotion.
Wrapping Up
These are 10 of the most celebrated Indian festivals, each with its own unique story, spiritual significance, and vibrant traditions. By incorporating these simple yet creative decoration ideas, you can infuse your home and puja mandir with the spirit of each festival—making the celebrations truly memorable.
To bring your festive decorations to life, explore the beautiful collection of DIY framed canvases at Craftopedia—the best online art and craft store in India. From Krishna and Ganesh canvases to Pattachitra-inspired paintings, you’ll find divine artwork bases to paint, decorate, and cherish.
You can also browse for paints, brushes, embellishments, and art supplies to add your personal creative touch to every celebration. After all, festivals are not just about rituals—they are opportunities to express devotion through creativity. And what could be more divine than completing a hand-painted Indian God canvas with your own hands?
So, get started, and let this festive season be a blend of faith, joy, and creativity