The entrance to a home has great significance. It is the point through which outsiders enter your home, so naturally, it has to look welcoming and attractive. It should send positive vibes to those who enter the home. So many people decorate the doorways or keep plants or have a nice inscription on the door. Hindus also believe that unclean or unkempt doorways displease the gods and keep them from entering their homes. Goddess Lakshmi, for instance, is believed to dislike dust and dirt. Since she is the goddess of wealth and good fortune, Hindus hope that she will visit their homes and bless them with prosperity. So among Hindus, door decorations are very important as they consider them essential for divine blessings that bring happiness and harmony to the people residing within the house.
Hindus use many things to decorate their doorways. Each Hindu door decoration has its own significance and symbolism.
One’s home, according to Vedic thought, is more than just a place to eat, sleep, and store one’s possessions. It’s a refuge from the outside world, where people can retreat after their work and other engagements, to rest, recharge and refresh. But it is also a spiritual sanctuary. For this reason, no Hindu home is without a Pooja room or Pooja area for worshipping the gods. It is also the custom to light lamps at dusk and pray to the gods. Some may do it in the morning too.
Many people also do Yoga and meditation at home to connect with the Divine.
Vaastu Shastra, the ancient science of Indian architecture, lays down many guidelines on how to build a sacred space that attracts positivity and divinity. It lays special emphasis on the space’s entrance.
The entrance of a home is a gateway to all kinds of forces. Some of them may be positive, and others negative. This gateway is like a barrier that protects the sanctity of your home from the outside world and its disruptive forces. Hence, Vastu Shastra says that the entrance of the home should be auspiciously fortified. This will preserve the integrity of the atmosphere so that you can live in a peaceful environment and pursue your spiritual discipline without any disturbance.
There are many traditions related to Hindu door decorations. Let us see some of them:
Toran
It is derived from the Sanskrit word torana, which means “to pass.” Torans are colorful door hangings usually fashioned from mango leaves and marigolds or similar materials. They symbolize clarity, cleanliness, and passion and are believed to attract Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows good fortune and prosperity. She can also bestow spiritual progress. It is also believed to keep away negative energies and evil spirits.
The Puranas and Bhagavad Gita mention the practice of hanging leaves at the front door of the house. Ancient scriptures say that the mango tree and its leaves are the residences of deities like Lakshmi, Govardhan, and Gandharva. A garland of mango leaves and other flowers is seen as an offering to Ganesha and Murugan. The belief is that Murugan insisted on garlands being tied using mango leaves as they signified a healthy crop and fertility.
There is also a scientific reason for using mango leaves. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Fresh marigold flowers, on the other hand, ward off mosquitoes and bad odors.
Swastika
The Swastika symbol is often confused with the hakencreuz, the Nazi symbol of hate and genocide. But in Hinduism, the Swastika is a very sacred and auspicious symbol. It is also found in other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, where the symbol has been in use for thousands of years. Swastika means “all is well” in Sanskrit. When it is placed on doors, it can supposedly bring prosperity, happiness, knowledge, and spiritual freedom, as represented by its four limbs.
Rangoli
It is a form of folk art. Simple or intricate patterns are drawn on the floor using materials like colored rice flour, powdered limestone, red ochre, colored sand, quartz powder, flower petals, etc. It is a daily practice in many Hindu homes. On festival days, the Rangolis are more elaborate and theme-based. Rangolis are usually made during festivals like Onam, Diwali, Pongal, etc. The womenfolk pass on the designs from one generation to the next.
Rangoli has different names depending on the state and culture. Rangolis are usually created early in the morning, outside the threshold of the main entrance, after cleaning the area with water. They signify happiness, positivity, and auspiciousness. Its main purpose is to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows good fortune and wealth. Hindus believe that a home that does not have a clean entrance and Rangoli is a place where poverty and misfortune dwell.
The Rangoli’s purpose goes beyond decoration. Limestone powder prevents insects from entering the home. The rice powder also attracts insects and prevents them from entering the home. Using cereal powders to make Rangoli is also described as panch-mahabhoota Seva, as it feeds insects.
The designs reflect traditions, practices, and folklore that are unique to an area. Girls or women make the Rangolis usually. Different colors and vibrant designs are reserved for special occasions like festivals, auspicious functions, marriages, etc. The designs can be simple geometric shapes, images of deities, animals, birds, or flower and petal shapes relating to the celebration.
Ganesha
Ganesha is the deity who removes obstacles. Hindus place an idol or image of Ganesh at the front door to ensure that there will be no obstacles to their material and spiritual progress.
Diya
Diyas are clay lamps. Hindus light them during festivals like Diwali and Karthigai Deepam. Lighting diyas is an important Hindu tradition. It is very auspicious as the light of the diyas can ward off darkness which is associated with evil spirits and negative energies. The light emitted by a fire can remove the darkness of the mind in symbolic terms. It’s why people light Diyas before starting an important task. When one lights the lamp, the light not only brightens up the space but also removes the darkness within one’s heart and mind.
Hindus light Diyas at one of the three “sandhi kaals” – mostly dawn and dusk, as it is during these times that the negative energies are at their strongest. By lighting a Diya during such times, we can repel the negative energies. It also invites positive vibes into the house. In many Hindu homes, women start the day by lighting a Diya, and they also light another one at dusk. Even now, in the villages, women keep a lighted Diya at the entrance of the house when dusk approaches. It not only removes negative energies but also guides people who are making their way home in the deepening twilight on lonely country roads.
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