1. Timeline (work back from Diwali day)
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks before | Committee agrees the budget and who owns decor. Check the association's rules on open flames, wall fixings and use of common-area power. |
| 2 weeks before | Take one wide photo of the lobby from the entrance. Measure the rangoli floor space and note where the nearest power points are. |
| 10 days before | Fix the layout (where rangoli, lights and diyas go). Buy or order everything in one go so you aren't chasing shops in Diwali week. |
| 2-3 days before | Test every light string. Put lights up. Brief security on what stays on overnight. |
| Diwali eve / day | Rangoli in the morning (it gets walked over by evening otherwise). Diyas lit in the evening with a named volunteer present. |
| Day after | Put out diyas, sweep rangoli powder before it tracks into lifts, pack lights for next year. |
2. Rangoli on lobby tiles
- Pick a spot out of the main walking line to the lifts. A rangoli in front of the lift door lasts about an hour.
- Polished vitrified tiles get slippery with loose powder. Keep the design compact and sweep the edges after it's done.
- Stencils help volunteers who don't draw: chalk the outline with the stencil, then fill colours.
- Size guide: a 3 ft x 3 ft rangoli is enough for most lobbies and takes two people about 60-90 minutes.
- Keep a small brush and dustpan nearby for touch-ups when kids walk through it.
3. Diyas safely in a common area
- Confirm the association allows open flames in the lobby. If not, use LED diyas in the same layout.
- Place diyas on a steel or brass tray, or on a sand bed, never directly on wooden furniture or near curtains, plants with dry leaves, or paper decorations.
- Keep them out of reach of small children and away from the entrance draught, which blows them out and pushes flame sideways.
- Name one volunteer who lights them and one who puts them out. Don't leave them burning after the lobby empties.
- Keep the lobby fire extinguisher visible and unobstructed.
4. String lights and power
- Use warm white strings rated for indoor use; test every string a few days before.
- Count the power points you can actually reach. One good extension board beats several daisy-chained ones.
- Tape cables down along walls; never run them across the walking path.
- Fix lights with removable hooks or tape the association permits, not nails into common walls.
- Agree with security when lights go off at night, or use a plug timer.
5. Volunteer roles (keep it to four)
- Owner: holds the budget, buys or orders everything, keeps receipts.
- Lights: tests and puts up the strings, handles power and timers.
- Rangoli: two people on the morning of Diwali.
- Diya duty: lights and puts out diyas, checks the area after.
6. Budget sheet
List each line and attach the receipt, so the treasurer can close it in one go:
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rangoli colours | 6-8 shades | Plus white for outlines |
| Rangoli stencils | 1-2 | Reusable next year |
| Warm string lights | 2-4 strings | Count power points first |
| Diyas + wicks + oil (or LED diyas) | 20-30 | Plus a tray or sand bed |
| Extension board, tape, hooks | 1 set | Reusable |
Disclosure: this guide is written by LobbyDrop, a small Bangalore service. If your committee would rather not do the shopping, we put together one lobby kit (rangoli colours + stencils, 3 warm light strings, 24 diyas) with a layout plan drawn on a photo of your lobby, delivered to your gate on your date with receipts. ₹3,499. See how it works. The checklist above works just as well without us.