The timeline
| When | What the committee does |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks out (by 12 Oct) | Pick one point person for decor. Agree on the areas to cover: main gate, lobby, lift lobby, and the clubhouse if you have one. Take one photo of each. |
| 3 weeks out (by 18 Oct) | Put a budget figure to the vote. Rough guide: ₹2,500 to ₹6,000 for one tower lobby with reusable LED lights and diyas; flowers on top. The lobby budget calculator gives you a number in a minute. Announce any contribution with a short contribution circular. |
| 2 weeks out (by 25 Oct) | Buy the reusable items: LED strings (outdoor rated for the gate), LED or wax diyas, a rangoli stencil and colours, torans. Check last year's box first. Ask for volunteers with a simple task sign-up. |
| 1 week out (by 1 Nov) | Pre-order marigold garlands for delivery the day before Dhanteras (prices jump on the day). Brief the guards on the festive guest and parcel rush and print the free desk kit (register + lobby sign + rules card). |
| Setup day (Thu 5 Nov evening) | Two to three volunteers, about two hours: lights first, then torans, then rangoli at the entrance last so it isn't walked over. Keep the lift doors, fire exits and the electrical panel clear. |
| Diwali week (Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj) | Lights on from dusk to about 11 pm on a plug-in timer. Replace wilted flowers once, around day 3. Keep the rangoli area roped or marked. |
| Takedown (by Sun 15 Nov) | Remove flowers the day after Bhai Dooj. Coil the lights, test them, label the box and note what broke, so next year's buy is quicker. |
Message for the residents' group
Copy, change the names and dates, and post it in week 3:
🪔 Diwali lobby decoration, [Society name]
Dear residents, the committee is decorating the main gate, lobby and lift lobby for Diwali this year.
• Budget: ₹[amount] from the festival fund (receipts will be shared here)
• Setup: Thursday 5 Nov, 6 to 8 pm. Volunteers welcome, reply here or message [name]
• Lights on Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, dusk to 11 pm
• Please don't move the diyas or step on the rangoli at the entrance 🙏
Ideas or a spare toran to share? Drop them here by 25 Oct.
Happy Diwali in advance,
[Committee]
For other festival notices (crackers, parking, cleanliness after Diwali), NoticeKart keeps ready society Diwali notices you can adapt.
Doing a rangoli at the entrance? Here's how to size it and keep it intact all week.
Common mistakes we see
- Buying everything fresh every year. LED strings and metal diyas last 3 to 5 years if they're stored dry.
- Flowers on day 1. Marigold lasts 3 to 4 days indoors. Put it up on Dhanteras, not a week before.
- Extension boards on the lobby floor. Run cables along the wall and tape them down; this is the one thing guards trip over during the parcel rush.
- No one owns takedown. Name the person in the same message that announces setup.
Free printable: the Diwali lobby desk kit gives your guards a guest and delivery register, a lobby welcome sign and a desk rules card, with your society name on them.
On the committee? Get a free lobby layout plan
Send one photo of your lobby or entrance. We'll mark where the rangoli, diyas and lights go and send the plan back within a day. Free, no payment, keep it even if you buy everything yourself. If you'd rather not shop, our kit is ₹3,499 delivered to your gate.