Bandhanwar (Toran)

While walking in my neighborhood I noticed a few houses decorated with Toran on the front door. Undoubtedly, those were beautiful, with vivid colors and intricate designs. I have seen plenty of these Torans in Indian stores as well, which got me thinking - do we really understand the importance of a Toran?

Why Toran or Bandhanwar?

Decorating the main entrance with Toran is an ancient method. It makes the door look beautiful and wards off negativity from entering the home. Do you remember your parents telling you to put a Toran when you move into a new home, in addition to prayers or pooja? Essentially, we want to enhance positive energies and avoid negativity in a home when we start living in it.

How to make Toran?

Not a very long time ago, people used real leaves and flowers to make Torans. They used Mango, Ashoka, and Neem leaves, along with flowers like Marigold. These leaves and flowers act as a filter to prevent negative energies from entering your home.

A note of caution

Now with our constant, overwhelmingly busy lives, the essence of creating and using Torans is lost. Many stores started selling Torans made from longer-lasting material, such as plastic, and many of us buy these too. They look beautiful; however, they defeat the whole purpose of using a Toran. Additionally, materials like plastic add to the negativity around a home. As a result, it is better to avoid Torans made of plastic and instead focus on those made of natural materials.