Mirror Diya Set of 10 - Gold Sunflower, Paisley, Kalash or Deep

Why this one

The mirrors are the reason. A gold diya reflects the flame once, off the metal. A mirror-set diya reflects it thirty or forty times, off every stone, and the effect changes as you walk past. It is also why this set costs more than the plain jali version - each stone is placed and set by hand into the metal.

The four shapes do different jobs. The kalash and the deep are puja shapes: the kalash is the pot used in Kalash Sthapana, griha pravesh and Varalakshmi Vratam, and "deep" is simply the Hindi word for lamp. The sunflower and paisley read as festive decoration rather than ritual objects, and the paisley's mango curve breaks up a straight line of holders nicely.

Which one do I need

Is it for a puja or for decorating? For a mandir, an altar or a griha pravesh, choose the kalash or the deep. For a dining table, mantel or party, choose the sunflower or paisley.

Will they sit in a straight row? The sunflower is round and lines up evenly. The kalash and deep have a flat base and point upward, so they suit a step edge, a rangoli border or a shelf facing one way. The paisley curves, so it looks best alternating or in a cluster.

How is this different from our other diya sets? Four of our sets are flat decorative pieces with a tea light well in the middle. They photograph similarly and are not the same thing in the hand:

• Pearl jali, 4 in, set of 10 - all metal. A pierced gold plate with a single row of white pearls at the rim. The plainest and the lightest.
• Mirror diyas, 4-4.5 in, set of 10 (this set) - metal with mirror inlay. White stones set in a sunflower, mango paisley, kalash or deep shape. The most jewelled.
• Pearl beaded velvet, 5 in, set of 6 - craft board and velvet in red or pink, white pearl outer ring, mirrored centre. Soft to the touch.
• Floral pearl stonework, 4 in, set of 10 - hand-painted pink and green florals between a pearl rim and a gold mirror centre. The most detailed painting of the four.

Where it works

A centrepiece run down a dining table, a puja room shelf, a mantel, either side of a doorway, the steps at the entrance on Diwali night. Worth putting where people pass rather than where they only see them head-on, because the mirrors need movement to do their thing.

Gifting

The one to send when the gift needs to look like it cost something. Ten pieces split cleanly into five gifts of two, which makes the set useful for Diwali, Navratri and Golu return gifts. The kalash is a natural griha pravesh or Varalakshmi Vratam gift, and the deep suits Diwali and Karthigai Deepam.

Questions people ask

What size tea light fits?
A standard 1.5 inch tea light, the size sold in bags at any grocery store, in all four designs. LED tea lights of the same size sit just as well.

Can I mix the designs?
Not within one set. Each set is ten of the one design you choose. If you want two shapes, two sets gives you twenty, and the kalash and deep look good alternating along a puja shelf.

Which design is the most traditional?
The deep and the kalash. Both are shapes used in puja itself, while the sunflower and paisley are decorative motifs.

How do I clean it?
A soft dry cloth over the metal and a dry brush between the mirrors. No water and no spray cleaner - the stones are set with adhesive.

Do the mirrors come loose?
They are set firmly, but this is handwork with adhesive, not machine setting. Store them flat rather than loose in a drawer and they will be fine for years.

Can I float these in water?
No. These are iron under a gold polish, and standing water will work under the finish and cause rust. For floating diyas you want an urli bowl instead.

Can I use them outdoors?
For an evening, yes - a covered porch or a still patio is fine. Bring them in overnight. Dew and sprinklers are what damage a gold polish, not the outdoors itself.

Where are these made?
India, by hand. Small differences between pieces in a set are normal and are how you can tell handwork from a machine-pressed import.

Can I order a larger quantity for an event?
Yes. Sets like this go out for weddings, temple events and office Diwali parties fairly often. Message us with your date and rough numbers before you order ten sets and we will tell you what we can hold.

Shipping

Free insured shipping across the USA and Canada. Ships from San Ramon, California, usually within one business day.

More festive lighting in the T-Lights & Diwali Diyas collection, and small-gift ideas in Indian Return Gifts.