The door tells the first story. Before a guest smells the ghee lamps or sees the rangoli, they see the garland strung across your threshold. On Diwali, that garland is the bandhanwar — a flower toran of marigold and mango leaves, hung to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and everyone who walks in after her.
You can buy a plastic one that lasts ten years and smells of nothing. Or you can string a fresh one in an afternoon. This guide shows you how: the flowers that hold up, the knots that do not slip, and where to order Diwali flowers online if you would rather skip the needle. Diwali 2026 runs from Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November to Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November, so there is still time to make one.
What a bandhanwar actually is
Bandhanwar comes from bandhan, to tie or bind. It is the strip of flowers and leaves that hangs horizontally over a doorway, different from the vertical mala you drape on a frame. In the south it is the thoran. Across the north it is the toran. Same idea either way: fresh marigold, mango or ashoka leaves, and a thread that holds them at the entrance through the five days of the festival.
The flower is not decoration alone. Marigold, or genda phool, is the festival's signature bloom, and we explain why genda phool earns its place at Diwali in a separate guide.
What you need to string one
A six-foot doorway toran needs less than you would guess. Gather this before you start:
- 300 to 400 fresh marigold heads, orange and yellow, stems trimmed to 1 cm
- 20 to 30 mango leaves, washed and patted dry
- A roll of cotton thread or thin jute, about 3 metres
- A long needle, or thin florist wire if you would rather not sew
- Scissors, and two small nails or hooks above the door
Buy the marigold the morning you hang it. A head cut the day before wilts by evening. A head strung fresh holds its colour for two full days.
How to make a marigold toran, step by step
- Cut a thread 15 cm longer than your doorway is wide, then tie a loop at one end.
- Push the needle through the base of each marigold head, packing the heads tight so no thread shows between them.
- Every eighth or tenth flower, slip in a mango leaf so a flash of green breaks the orange.
- Keep threading until the strung length matches your doorway, then tie a loop at the far end.
- Add danglers if you like: three-flower drops tied every foot, hanging 10 cm below the main line.
- Hang it taut on the two nails, flowers facing out, leaves kissing the frame.
Fifteen minutes of threading, maybe twenty. Put on music. It goes faster than it reads.
Which flowers survive a day on the door
Heat is the enemy. A Bangalore doorway in November climbs past 28°C by afternoon, and thin petals curl fast. Marigold wins because its tight, layered head locks in water. Chrysanthemum, or shevanti, comes second, sturdy and slow to fade. String in a few red roses or jasmine buds for scent, but keep them out of direct sun.
Skip tuberose and lily on the door; they bruise. Save those for the puja table, where the flowers you offer at Lakshmi Puja matter more than how they hang.
Where to hang it, and how long it lasts
The main door first. That is the one Lakshmi is said to enter. Then the puja room, the balcony grille, a window frame. A fresh marigold toran holds colour for about 48 hours in the shade, less in sun. Mist it with water twice a day and it reaches the third evening.
Want it to last the full five days? The same habits that keep cut flowers fresh indoors apply at the door: cool air, no direct heat, a daily spritz.
No time to string one? Order it ready
Not every Diwali afternoon has a spare hour. If yours does not, our Diwali collection carries ready arrangements built from the same farm-fresh marigold and seasonal blooms. Marigold Mood brings the genda-phool glow to a table for ₹2,699, Diwali, Done Right pairs flowers with the festive extras at ₹3,259, and The Art of Hosting dresses the table for guests at ₹3,719. We send Diwali flowers in Bangalore the same afternoon when you order before the daily cut-off, right through 8 November.
New to festival flowers? Start with our complete Diwali flowers and gifting guide, then come back and string your toran.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Diwali flower toran called?
It is called a bandhanwar or toran in the north and a thoran in the south. It is the horizontal string of marigold and mango leaves hung across a doorway through Diwali.
How many marigolds do I need for a door toran?
About 300 to 400 marigold heads for a standard six-foot doorway, depending on how tightly you pack them. Buy them the morning you plan to hang the toran.
How long does a fresh marigold toran last?
Roughly 48 hours in the shade. Mist it with water twice a day and keep it out of direct sun to stretch it to the third evening.
Can I get fresh Diwali flowers delivered the same day in Bangalore?
Yes. Order before the daily cut-off and Hanabee delivers marigold and Diwali arrangements across Bangalore the same afternoon, including on Lakshmi Puja, 8 November 2026.
Which flowers are best for a Diwali doorway?
Marigold leads, with chrysanthemum close behind, because both hold up in afternoon heat. Add a few roses or jasmine for fragrance, and save delicate tuberose and lily for the indoor puja table.