How to Style a Modern Diwali Table
My interpretation of a Diwali tablescape is a modern, contemporary take that incorporates beautiful floral garlands suspended over the table and draped down its centre. Marigold blooms are scattered amongst the garlands and diyas with twinkling lights are dotted amongst the flowers. It may be far from traditional, but it certainly feels joyful - and it smelt amazing too!
Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner. It is a wonderful celebration that, at it’s heart, is the story of light over dark - the victory of good over evil - and given the recent state of the world, I couldn’t think of a more apt sentiment to celebrate. This modern Diwali table is easy to pull together and impressive - my favourite kind of styling - not too difficult but lots of wow factor.
Step by Step Guide for Creating a Modern Diwali Table
Start by heading down to Little India in Singapore (if you don’t live in Singapore, find an area of your city that has some great Indian stall holders selling flowers) and buy yourself some floral garlands. These are sold in 1 foot and 8 foot lengths (the 8 foot length is called a ball because it is wrapped into a ball for ease of purchase). There are a multitude to choose from - we used a colour palette of pinks and oranges. You can also buy loose flowers like the marigolds in bags.
With so much colour from the floral garlands, keep your table modern and simple. Lay the table with a good quality white linen tablecloth and white plates. I used gold cutlery to add to the warmth of the table and a beautiful soft pink gingham linen napkin to complement the colour palette.
If you have a pedestal or footed bowl, place this in the centre of the table and pile some of the floral garlands into the bowl and have them spill out and over the table. Place the additional floral garlands along the middle of the table to create a beautiful simple floral centrepiece. You can easily move the garlands around to accommodate dishes once dinner is served. Along the garlands to drape down the ends of the table as well.
While in Little India, also pick up some clay diyas and place tea lights in these for the twinkle of candles. Dot these between the floral garlands.
Floral Garlands
In Indian culture, floral garlands are used to worshop the gods, hung over doorways to welcome guests, presented to people as a sign of honour and blessing and used at auspicious occasions to create a beautiful smelling and visually stunning decoration. Despite their short-lived lifespan, garlands remain a medium to express sentiments of purity, honour, goodwill, love, and beauty.
Diyas
Diyas are little clay oil lamps that are filled with oil and a cotton wick for burning. Candle light is an important part of the Diwali festival and represent enlightenment, knowledge or wisdom. For our diyas we used little tea lights in place of the oil. You can buy diyas of various sizes and designs in Little India.
Marigolds
The bright saffron colour of the marigold flower is considered auspicious, and holds spiritual significance. During Diwali, garlands of marigolds are used to adorn the doors and windows of homes as well as for offerings to Hindu gods.
where to shop in little India singapore for Diwali
Singapore has a large Indian diaspora and whilst there are many Indian neighbourhoods within Singapore, Little India is one of the most well loved hubs for accessing all things Indian. I have always loved visiting Little India - the fragrant smell of fresh jasmine garlands, the whiff of spices, the dusty dark cramped shops and narrow walkways. It always seems to be bristling with energy.
Start on the corner of Serangoon Road and Buffalo Road. There are plenty of little streets to wander down and discover, but Buffalo Road is where you will find flower carts selling fresh flower garlands. The garlands are sold either as a 1 foot length or an 8 foot length called a ‘ball’ (basically because the length of the garland is wrapped into a ball). For our decorations we bought a variety of garlands in the 8 foot ball length. Just two or three will suffice and once you hang them, you can always trim them as we did and then lay the remaining garland on the table as a centrepiece decoration. You can also buy a bag of loose fresh blooms such as marigolds from the flower carts. These are sold per 100g and the stall holder will roughly guess this with a handful or two.
Half way down Buffalo Road, next to one of the flower carts, you will find a supermarket that has large boxes of diyas out the front. There are plastic bowls for you to gather your diyas before heading inside to pay. There are a variety of sizes for the diyas but they are all the plain clay versions. If you have little kids, you could let them paint them in their own colours before lighting them.
Once you have your flowers and diyas head back the way you came towards Serangoon Road and cross at the lights. On the other side of Serangoon Road you will find Campbell Lane. It is a pedestrian street that runs next to Little India Arcade (which has all but closed down). Down this street you will find artificial floral garlands and lots of little trinkets in the stores. Jusst next to the entrance of Campbell Lane on Serangoon Road is Moghul Sweet Shop. It isn’t much to look at, but I have it on good authority that this is the best place in the area to buy sweets with queues sometimes snaking their way down Serangoon Road.