Tips on decorating altars

abhiram

what recommendations or advice can you give me?
I am interested in backgrounds, what to use, where to find them, pictures etc.
thanks.

mishra

blue velvet is very elegant for backgrounds

Praveen

maybe there are some fabric stores you can check out. Like I go to Joann's Fabric and Craft stores and they have lots of beautiful fabrics at some pretty good prices.

I like to use a background that matches the curtains, and I like to keep it simple, I feel that a fancy background hides the beauty of the Deities in their elaborate outfits. I have seen some temples use paintings as a background, I always found that to be nice. So if you are a talented painter or of you know one, go for it.

abhiram

and what about lights and lamps?
how do you hang them?

Hari Bhakta dasa

I have little stick on battery operated lights which work very well but do not use big heavy ones as they might fall on the deities. I use very small ones. Also, I use small christmas lights. To stick them up I use velcro hangers.

Praveen

abhiram:
and what about lights and lamps?
how do you hang them?

Its kind of hard to explain. We have a long halogen light, about a foot long. There are holes in each side of its holder to drive a nail into. So its nailed to the top and inside of our altar. But for safety measures there is also tape and very thin rope to keep it there. Our altar is conveniently next to an electrical outlet so the cord is taped on the sides of the altar and then plugged into the outlet. The ugliness gets covered up with curtains and the valance.

Thats the only light that we use for the altar, we dont do lamps. We do have candles for arati and for decoration but thats it.

I hope that was somewhat helpful.

abhiram

but halogen is white light right? does it look nice? i think i would prefer something more yellowish.

like, candle !?

i think i will build one on my own in the future, for now on i beleive that i will have still the pics i use to place over that table of the room whcih each has been allready printied were i am having them actually, n i am going for one of Lord Nrshimha Now which i think i will also try to draw.

ah anyway it will be also great to have light of candle and everything... just you be carefull with that thing as the fire can also burn and stuff. but is not even a bad thing that you can get a bulb in these case of the colour you looking for too, i beleive yellow its very nice for body formed deityes and a very natural athmosphere hence for them. i think it will on house go on the yaard where it will be like a nice little garden. yeah, for the murtis.

its allways helpfull.
Hare Krsna

Praveen

abhiram:
but halogen is white light right? does it look nice? i think i would prefer something more yellowish.

Then go with yellow. We use halogen lights all over the house because it lasts longer and uses less energy, especially since the altar light is on all day. I dont think my Deities mind either, besides They look good under any light =>;)

abhiram

What background do you use? A photo or a cloth? or just the plain white wall?
I dont like white walls.

Praveen

abhiram:
What background do you use? A photo or a cloth? or just the plain white wall?
I dont like white walls.

White walls are so blah. I use a cloth background since I dont yet have the patience to learn how to paint. I dont know where you live but if its in the US then definitely check out Jo-Ann's Fabric and Craft stores or Handcock Fabrics- you can get some really beautiful fabric at a good deal. I have shopped there so many times the employees know me by name. Hehe.

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