DIY Holika Dahan Decor For Holi Festival

Holika Dahan, also known as “Chhoti Holi” is a traditional Hindu festival of India that marks the triumph of good over evil.

It is typically celebrated on the night before the colorful festival of Holi.

This auspicious occasion involves the burning of bonfires and is typically accompanied by singing, dancing, playing with colors, followed by feasting.

I have already made a few DIY homemade organic powder colors for Holi and thought of Crafting the Holika Dahan bonfire structure as a Holi decor.

The final outcome was outstanding and hence I thought of sharing my idea of making it with everyone.

In this article, I’ve provided a comprehensive guide to creating a visually stunning Holika Dahan bonfire decoration, complete with step-by-step instructions and supporting images.

To kickstart the crafting process, let’s dive into the list of essential materials I utilized for this DIY project (Covered in step 1 below).

Step 1: Things I’ve used to make DIY Holika

• Wooden Sticks: From my outdoor garden, I’ve gathered a few dried and fragmented tree twigs. Additionally, I’ve included some leftover popsicle sticks and bamboo sticks from prior craft projects. This demonstrates how even small, discarded crafting materials can be utilized when valued. Adding them will make the project more realistic and happening.
• Colorful Origami papers: To make the triangle-shaped hanging decor I’ve used pieces of colorful origami paper sheets.
• Cardboard Sheet: To make the base of the Holika Dahan setting I’ve used a piece of cardboard sheet.
• Lighting Strip: I’ve used a lighting Strip which I had bought last year for the festival of lights (The auspicious Diwali Festival).
• Cotton: I’ve used cotton to wrap the lights to add the fire effects of Holika Dahan.
• Thread: To tie the sticks together wherever required I’ve used thin thread ideal for sewing clothes.
• Glue: I’ve used multipurpose PVA glue to stick the required elements.

Having gathered all the necessary elements, it’s time to start with the essential steps of creating a stunning Holika Dahan Decor.

Step 2: Mounting the Strip Lights On Our DIY Holika

I picked up a bamboo stick to serve as a roller and wrapped the strip light around it. In other words, I utilized the bamboo stick as the central base for my Holika Dahan craft project.

To provide stability, I secured the strip light along the edge of the bamboo stick and then proceeded to wrap the entire strip around it.

This setup created the glowing effect of a bonfire, resembling the actual Holika Dahan celebration (but in a friendly way).

Step 3: Covering the lights with Cotton

Next up, I surrounded the base with cotton so that it adds to the glowing effect like fire after completing the project.

I made sure to wrap the cotton tightly and swiftly covered it with small tree branches and craft wooden sticks.

If you don’t have plush cotton, regular cotton can also be used for wrapping.

In case the cotton doesn’t adhere to the structure, you can use clear tape to secure it.

Step 4: Aligning the Wooden Sticks

Next up, it’s time to position the wooden sticks around the Holika Dahan structure.

I meticulously arranged them, one by one, to form a cohesive bundle with minimal gaps.

This careful arrangement ensured that the light emanating from the bonfire evenly distributed, creating a captivating visual effect.

Finally, I secured the wooden sticks together with a thin, delicate thread.

After securing the sticks, I placed the structure on the floor to ensure it stands with proper balance.

With a stable foundation in place, let’s turn our attention to the aesthetic enhancements of the project.

Step 5: Adding paper decor

Carefully, I aligned the vibrant origami papers and cut a strip along one edge.

Then, I transformed them into triangular shapes, ready to adorn the Holika bonfire structure.

One by one, I affixed them to various areas of the structure.

Alternatively, you can string them together and wrap them around the Holika Dahan structure for an eye-catching effect.

Step 6: Fixing the Base & Decor

To create the base support, I glued popsicle sticks together and painted it in a shade of brown.

I used acrylic paint for the base support, but you can leave it unpainted if you prefer.

Next, I positioned the Holika bonfire structure on top of the base.

To enhance the look, I added white pebbles around the structure and will be incorporating some artificial green bushes to the sides.

The final step involves powering on the strip lights to achieve the desired effect.

As you can see from the image below, the setup creates a realistic bonfire Holika Dahan effect, which is exactly what I was aiming for.

The cotton surrounded over the flashy yellow lights are the actual show stealers here.

I will use it as a decor item for the upcoming festival of colors which is the auspicious occasion of Holi festival.

DIY Holika Dahan Decor Video Walkthrough

Final Thoughts

Holika Dahan holds great significance in Hindu mythology, so let’s celebrate it with extra excitement by making Holi decorations.

I have also shared the complete video link for your reference, so that you can use the similar idea to impress your close ones, especially kids who will love it.

Also do visit our YouTube channel to watch the DIY Homemade Organic Holi colors tutorial video (Make holi safer and eco-friendly).

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