Deepavali 🪔

"'Twas a light that made darkness itself appear a thing of comfort.

- Robert Southey

The traditional Deepavali lantern or 'kandeelu' as we call it, did just that to me. They still evoke fond memories of lights, delicious food, new clothes and a general feeling of love, laughter and warmth.

It was one of the must-haves of Deepavali as were growing up, hanging right outside the house on the porch, spilling muted light into a pool of warm glow. I vaguely remember the excitement of the whole family participating with comments, opinions, advice and anticipation as the lantern was being hung up just before Deepavali every year, but I clearly remember standing under it afterwards, gazing at the beauty of it and a general feeling of "all's right with my world" filling up my heart and making me insanely happy.

Those colourful paper lanterns were made by local artisans and sold at the local market around Deepavali. In recent years they seem to have disappeared and have been replaced by cheap plastic versions. Chinese plastic lanterns in garish colours seem to have flooded the shops and the only other alternative are the cloth ones with mirrorwork on them, that you find hanging in almost every restaurant and cafe in touristy places like Goa.

I've been searching for the lanterns from my childhood for many many years now, but haven't had any luck.

 

 

So this year I decided to make my own version of a lantern. My medium is yarn, and my art is crochet, so I went with that. I did some research for a pattern but could not find any that I liked, so I winged it, and crocheted this lantern.

If you do crochet and want to know how I made this, please ask and I'll write up the pattern for you. 

 

It kind of looks like stained glass and looks absolutely gorgeous hung up on my balcony with a soft yellow light bulb inside. 

 

Just look at the light pattern it throws out! 

 

Muted light - check

Warmth - check

Feeling of accomplishment - check

😇

 

For the next year's Deepavali though, I AM definitely learning how to make my own paper lantern like the old ones. You know, the octagonal ones where each panel has a different colour, and has trails of paper streaming from the bottom... If you know where I can buy them, or a tutorial which will teach me how to make one, please let me know in the comments and I'd be forever grateful to you!

Happy Deepavali, everyone! I wish upon you a festival full of sweet childhood memories, a home full of light, a heart full of joy and a life full of love. 

 

♥️🪔