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Traditional kitchen and pooja objects that have evolved into décor
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years, it’s that décor is what you make it. From using kids’ doodles as art, to framing quilts and sarees and upcyling wine bottles into vases, everyday objects can take on a new life and form.
Several traditional Indian household items serve more than their actual purpose in modern homes, doubling up as décor pieces and conversation starters. As we celebrate all-things-Indian, here are a few desi objects you may have in your home (or your grandma’s!) that can be used to style your home.
Dhoop and agarbatti (incense) have a special place in Indian homes. They add fragrance to a room, cleanse the air, and are an essential part of prayer and meditation. And a very practical companion to incense, incense holders, can double up as decorative items. Designed to catch the ash from burning incense, these holders have now become works of art—with some made from precious metals and others, like back flow incense holders, taking on the form of ceramic sculptures. A well-designed incense holder can adorn your mantelpiece or centre table and have a place of pride in the pooja room.
Incense holders can double up as decorative items. Image courtesy, Shutterstock
Bharnis make great vases and can be used as planters too. Image courtesy, Temple Town
Used for food storage, bharanis—those two-toned, pleasantly-curved, lidded jars—are unmistakable in Indian kitchens and pantries. These unassuming glazed brown and white jars have been used for centuries to store pickle, milk, oil, and other liquids. But their use doesn’t need to be limited to the kitchen. They make great vases, can be used as planters, or even displayed on a shelf or coffee table as-is. They are also a great way to store ladles and spoons in the kitchen.
Bharnis are easy to source, don’t break the bank, and come in a variety of sizes. Plus, their neutral tone allows them to blend into any kind of aesthetic, from a minimal Scandinavian one to a maximalist and earthy Indian one.
From the bharni to the urli: or the large, round, heavy-bottomed brass vessels that are intrinsic to south India. These vessels are used in cooking and in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines and infused oils. Since they are made from brass and copper, food and medicine prepared in urlis are said to have a number of health benefits, from blood purification to better gut health.
But urlis are versatile and are used just as much, if not more, for decoration. Urlis filled with water and flowers are a common sight in foyers, gardens, and homes. There’s a spiritual reasoning for this as well: urlis are known to eliminate negative energy, and, from a vastu perspective, placing flowers in water spreads positivity and draws wealth into a space.
Urlis are versatile brass vessels which can be used to eliminate negative energy. Image courtesy, Tusker Katha
Large urlis can be used as planters, smaller ones can dot your home as diyas and votive holders, or polished and displayed just as they are.
Holy water pots are used in religious rituals and ceremonies across faiths, and in Indian temples, they are usually filled with water from sacred rivers like the Ganges. Like urlis, these pots are made from brass and other alloys, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with or without lids, and can be plain or engraved. Vintage and antique holy water pots are great standalone pieces of art that can be placed in your home mandir or living room.
Vintage and antique holy water pots are great standalone pieces of art. Image courtesy, Shutterstock
Hanging lamps have moved beyond tradition and are used as statement pieces. Image courtesy, Envisage
Think of Indian hanging oil lamps/diyas as the original pendant light. These lamps are suspended by a long chain or rope and are hung in homes and temples and lit during pujas and auspicious occasions. Some hanging lamps are works of art in themselves, with intricate carvings of deities. From a practical standpoint, these lamps, often lit with ghee or sesame oil, also help purify the air.
Today, hanging lamps have moved beyond tradition and are used as statement pieces. Hang them in a corner, at the entrance of your home, or create symmetry with a pair of hanging lamps framing a wall or doorway. Whichever way you choose to style them, hanging lamps will always create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Haldi-kumkum (turmeric and vermillion) have a religious significance in Hinduism and haldi-kumkum pots often given as gifts at weddings and festivals. Symbolising purity, power, energy and wisdom, these powders are used in poojas and other ceremonies, stored in tiny pots and placed in home prayer rooms and altars.
Haldi Kumkum pots can take up space on your sideboard, mantelpiece or shelves. Image courtesy, Shutterstock
But these elegant pooja ornaments also make for lovely décor pieces, given their small size and the variety of shapes, materials, and colours they come in. From marble to metal to wood and even ceramic, haldi-kumkum pots can take up space on your sideboard, mantelpiece or shelves.
The paan box is another antique home essential that can transform into a collectible living room piece. Display it on your shelves, as a centrepiece, or even as a convenient entryway storage solution for keys, cards and other bits and bobs.
Remember, décor is what you make it. Tap into tradition, raid your mom’s attic and weave some of these desi pieces into your space to create an aesthetic vignette.
Will you be living in your space during the renovation ?
DEC 2023
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17 Oct 23, 03.00PM - 04.00PM