How to make your own Bandhanvaar/Toran/Door hanging this Diwali

In India a bandhanvaar/toran is considered auspicious at the entrance of our home. It is a way to welcome our guests and adorn the house. A mango-leaf toran, essentially a door-hanging, is mostly made on auspicious occasions. However they do not last long. Decorative hangings, on the other hand, last longer maybe even a few years.

Peacock design and hues are my new favourites. On this Diwali, the bandhanvaar, rangoli at home, even my saree is going to be inspired by this beautiful bird. I will try and upload the rangoli pictures depending on the internet connection I get, since I am travelling home :)

Bandhanvaar/toran/door hanging

I am sharing a bandhanvaar diy for the same today. You can use this design or alter it and make your own toran this Diwali.

Design planning and final look

SEGMENT-I

Peacock pattern cut-out & decoration

What you will need for the Peacock pattern

As you can see in the picture above, I have cut out the peacock design on a sheet of thick paper (use those old sturdy catalogues or cards), which is pasted on a buckram (a stiff cloth) and together this creates a firm base. On either side of this base, I have used two shades of felt cloth (colour can work just as well). Plan your design and use embellishments for the inlay work. I have used an assortment of golden beads, coloured stones, mirror and yarn pieces. For the planned design, we would need two of these cut-outs.

Inlay work on the peacock design

A peacock, as we all know is incomplete without it's crown and tail feathers.

For the crown, I used a wire to string the red and blue beads together. The wire helps make the structure strong and flexible. See the pictures below for detail. 

Peacock's crown

For the tail feathers, I have used different shades of blue and green pom-poms along with yellow and blue clay beads and kaudi (form of conch-see picture below)

Peacock's tail feathers

For the complete look, an eye is a must. I have painted one and stuck it to the cut-out. Black beads would work too.

Eye cut-out

Final look of the Peacock cut-outs

SEGMENT-II

Weaving beads for a chain

For the planned design, a chain structure will be required, from which the bead and pom-pom strands (segment-III) can be hanged. I have weaved a basic bead chain. It is very simple, just follow the video below to weave similar chains.

What you will need for weaving(left image)
final look of the right-angled weaving(right image)

SEGMENT-III

Preparing the hanging strands ('W' & 'semi-circle' patterns)

What you will need for the hanging segment
(various shades of beads and pom-poms, mirrors, wooden bird pieces, kaudi and bells)

First plan the pattern of the hanging. Like, for this toran, I have 4 sections of the 'W' structure and 3 of the semi-circle.

Begin sewing the pom-poms and beads on a sturdy string. I have tied kaudi and bells in the ends of 'W' and semi-circle patterns. To attach mirrors paste two of them together with the string in between. 

Follow the pictures below for details.

for 'Semi-circle' pattern

for 'W' pattern

  

Once all the segments are ready, we need to assemble them together. For that, tie the strings prepared above to the woven bead-chain to get the 'W' and semi-circle pattern. Start from the middle and keep the segments equidistant for a symmetrical look. Peacock cut-outs have to be stitched to the chain ends. 

The last bit is attaching rings or loops on the other end of the peacock cut-out. Stitch (not stick) the rings to provide strength to the entire structure (just a tip-attach multiple rings, this will help you adjust the length of the toran between the nails)

Assembling various segments together

Hope you enjoy working on this project. Share your own projects. Sharing and learning is what this blog is all about.

Happy Diwali guys. Have a safe one.