Diwali decorations that ship to the USA: door, threshold, windows and altar
Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. If you are decorating a home in the US, the classic Indian pieces are hard to find in local stores, and most marketplace listings don't say where an item was made or what it is made of. This guide lays out a simple four-zone plan (door, threshold, windows and altar) and lists the pieces we stock for each, with the size, material and origin from our catalog.
Everything below except the gift box is held in US stock and ships in 1–2 days, so there is still time. For lamps and puja items in more depth, see our Diwali puja essentials checklist.
Zone 1: the front door
A toran is the decorative hanging strung across the top of the door to welcome Lakshmi into the home. Our Beaded Door Toran ($29) comes from the festive stalls of Kinari Bazaar in Old Delhi. It is 36 inches wide and made of cotton with glass beads, small mirrors and gota trim. It weighs 300 g, so a pair of adhesive hooks holds it. Store it flat after the festival and it will serve again for weddings and housewarmings.
Zone 2: the threshold
Rangoli is the coloured pattern drawn on the floor at the entrance. Freehand rangoli takes practice; stencils make it quick. The Rangoli Stencil & Colour Kit ($22) has reusable stencils and 8 colour powders, the same colours sold in heaps in Sadar Bazaar. The powders are lead-tested and for floor use only. Keep them dry between uses. It is a good family or classroom activity for the week before Diwali.
Zone 3: windows and porch
The star-shaped akash kandeel is hung outside homes all through Diwali. Our Paper Kandeel Lantern ($19) is paper on a bamboo frame, 14 inches across, and arrives flat-packed. An LED string is included. Use only the LED inside it, never a candle or oil lamp. For a porch, hang it from a ceiling hook; indoors, it works in a window facing the street.
Zone 4: the altar and the table
Diwali is the festival of lights, so lamps carry the evening. The Brass Diya, Pair ($42) is solid hand-polished brass from Moradabad, a GI-registered craft, 4.5 inches across. Each diya takes oil and a cotton wick, or simply a tealight. For the Lakshmi puja itself, the Brass Puja Thali Set ($49) puts a diya, bell, kumkum bowls and an incense stand on a 10-inch brass plate. Clean brass after the festival with lemon and salt.
To dress the sofa for guests, a Mirror-Work Cushion Cover ($29, 16 × 16 in) adds the sparkle of small abhla mirrors, hand-embroidered by Rabari and Ahir women in Kutch.
What it costs to decorate
| Zone | Piece | Price | Size | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door | Beaded Door Toran | $29 | 36 in wide | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Threshold | Rangoli Stencil & Colour Kit | $22 | Kit box | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Window | Paper Kandeel Lantern | $19 | 14 in | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Altar | Brass Diya, Pair | $42 | 4.5 in each | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Altar | Brass Puja Thali Set | $49 | 10 in plate | US stock, 1–2 days |
The first four pieces together come to $112, enough to cover the door, the step, one window and the lamps.
Decorating for someone else
If you are sending Diwali to family or colleagues rather than decorating your own home, the Festival of Lights Gift Box ($79) packs a brass diya pair and two Kalamkari napkins with a card in a 12 × 9 × 4 in box. It is made to order and takes 14 days before it ships, so order it by 20 October to leave time for delivery before 8 November. More ideas are in our Diwali gift guide and our guide to Diwali gift boxes that ship in the USA.
Checklist
- Toran hung across the front door
- Rangoli drawn at the threshold on the morning of Diwali
- Kandeel lit in a front window or on the porch
- Diyas filled with oil or tealights and placed at the altar and entrance
- Puja thali set out for the Lakshmi puja