Diwali decoration ideas with candles: urlis, votives and floating candles

1. Light the entrance first

The doorway is where Lakshmi is welcomed, and where guests form their first impression. Frame the rangoli with a row of glass votives on either side — the glass protects the flame from the breeze better than an open diya.

The Genda Votive Set, hand-painted with marigolds, picks up the colour of a genda toran. Place votives at least a foot from the door frame and away from where dupattas and sarees swing past.

2. Make an urli your centrepiece

An urli of floating candles is the easiest way to make an entrance or a coffee table look festive. Fill a wide brass or ceramic bowl about three-quarters full of water, scatter rose petals and marigold heads, then float three to five candles in the gaps.

Our Ada Gift Set has flower-shaped floating candles with gold edges, made for exactly this. Light them just before guests arrive.

If you would rather skip the water, a wax-flower urli such as Gulabo or Genda Phool gives you the same look with no wilting petals to replace each morning.

3. Keep the puja corner simple

The mandir needs warmth, not clutter. Pair your traditional diyas with one or two candles that suit the space: the Ganesha Candle, a glass votive with a gold Ganesha motif, or Inaayat, a tall gold tumbler that suits shelves and puja units.

Stand every candle on a metal thali or heatproof plate, keep it clear of fabric and marigold strings, and never leave it lit when the room is empty.

4. Dress the dining table and living room

Group candles in odd numbers and mixed heights — one tall, two short — rather than spacing them in a straight line. A metal vessel catches the light: Ananas, the pineapple-shaped centrepiece, or Noor, a rounded gold vessel that throws a warm glow, both anchor a table.

Keep strongly scented candles away from the dining table so they do not compete with the food. In the living room, warm festive notes work well — Spiced Orange or Pumpkin Spice smell like the season.

5. Windows and balconies

Balconies are windy, so use candles in glass and set them inside a planter or a corner out of the breeze. Mix votives with fairy lights: the lights give coverage, the candles add flicker.

Pomegranate-blossom votives from the Anaar Votive Set look lovely lined along a window sill — just keep them away from curtains.

Burn candles safely (and without soot) this Diwali

Trim the wick to about 5 mm before every burn — a long wick is the main cause of smoke and soot.

On the first burn, let the melted wax reach the edges of the vessel (usually 2–3 hours) so the candle does not tunnel. After that, burn in sessions of two to four hours.

Never leave a lit candle unattended, keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and use a snuffer or the lid rather than blowing them out.

Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin, which matters indoors during a week of near-constant lighting. Read our full candle care guide for more.