Article: How to Decorate with a Brass Urli for Diwali: A Guide for Australian Homes
How to Decorate with a Brass Urli for Diwali: A Guide for Australian Homes
The short answer: to decorate with an urli for Diwali, set the bowl where you want it before you fill it, pour in water to about two-thirds full, float a few candles first and then fresh flower heads around them, and ring the outside with brass diyas. Light everything after sunset. On Sunday 8 November that's just after 8pm in Melbourne. This guide covers where to put it, what to float, how to keep it going through all five days, and which urli suits which spot.
An urli is a wide, shallow bowl from South India, traditionally made of bell metal or brass and filled with water, flowers and lamps. At Diwali it becomes the centrepiece of the welcome: the first thing guests see at the door and the bowl the family gathers around for Lakshmi Puja. If you'd like the history, we've written about the urli's place in Indian homes. This post is the practical part.
Brass or gold-finish? Choosing your urli
Not every gold urli is brass, and for Diwali that's worth knowing, because the material changes how heavy the bowl is once it's full of water and how you look after it. Here are three of the urlis our customers are choosing most this season:
| Urli | Material | Size | Weight (empty) | Best spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gajgamini Brass Urli | Solid brass | 30 cm wide, 10.6 cm deep | 1.1 kg | Entrance or pooja area, where it stays put all week |
| Lotus Urli Decorative Bowl, Gold | Aluminium, gold finish | 32 cm wide, 12.2 cm deep | 580 g | Dining or coffee table, the largest bowl of the three |
| Kanchan Urli Decorative Bowl | Hand-hammered aluminium, gold finish | 26.4 cm wide, 8 cm deep | 400 g | Side tables, consoles and smaller entries |
Choose brass if the urli is part of your puja, if you want a piece that will be passed down, or if it's going in one spot for the whole festival. The Gajgamini is solid brass with elephant detailing (the name means "one who walks with an elephant's grace"), and its weight keeps it steady on a floor or step.
Choose a gold-finish urli if you'll be moving it around. Water is heavy, and a lighter bowl is far easier to carry to the sink to empty and refill each day. The Lotus Urli has a petal-shaped rim and is the widest of the three; the Kanchan Urli has a hand-hammered texture that catches candlelight beautifully and suits a tighter space.
Browse every shape and size in Urlis & Trays, or just the brass urlis.
Where to place your urli for Diwali
- At the entrance. This is the classic spot. Diwali welcomes Lakshmi into the home, and the doorway is where that welcome happens. Place the urli just inside the front door or on the front step, with a rangoli in front of it if you're making one.
- In the north-east or the centre of the home. In Vastu tradition, the north-east corner and the centre of the house (the Brahmasthan) are the zones most often suggested for a bowl of water and flowers.
- Beside your Lakshmi Puja. Set close to the mandir or puja table, the urli becomes part of the evening ritual rather than just decoration.
- On the dining or coffee table. If you're hosting, a low urli keeps conversation clear across the table, which a tall arrangement won't.
Wherever it goes, use a flat, level, heat-safe surface and set a mat or tray underneath. A full bowl can form condensation on a warm evening, and the outside of a lit urli gets warm.
What to float in an urli
Flowers. Marigolds (genda) are the Diwali flower: the heads float well and the saffron and yellow read as festive from across the room. Rose petals, jasmine and whole small blooms all work too. In an Australian spring you have more choice than you might think: gerberas and chrysanthemums are easy to find at florists, and in warmer cities frangipani is often flowering by November. Cut each flower right down to the head so it floats flat, and buy marigolds from an Indian grocer in the week before Diwali, when they're freshest and most plentiful.
Candles. Use proper floating candles in the water. They're made to sit level and burn safely on the surface. Three or five usually looks better than an even number.
Diyas go around the urli, not in it. A brass diya is solid metal and will sink. Set your diyas around the outside of the bowl instead, on the tray, step or table, with ghee or oil and a cotton wick. Our Brass Lotus Diya is small (about 6 cm across) and made for exactly this: a ring of five or seven around an urli looks deliberate and lets each flame be seen. For a bigger flame at a puja, the Brass Lotus Diya with Handle is easier to lift during aarti.
How to set it up, step by step
- Position the bowl empty. Even a light urli is awkward to carry once it's full, and a brass one gets heavy fast. Put it where it's going first.
- Fill to about two-thirds. This leaves the candles sitting a little below the rim, sheltered from drafts, and stops water slopping over if someone knocks the table.
- Float the candles first. Space them evenly so each has clear water around it.
- Add the flowers. Fill in around the candles, keeping petals well clear of each wick. Leave some open water showing; a packed surface looks heavy and hides the reflections.
- Ring it with diyas. Place them symmetrically around the bowl, or in a line leading up to it from the door.
- Light after sunset. Never leave a lit urli unattended, and keep it out of reach of children, pets and curtains.
Diwali in Australia: a few things guides from India won't tell you
- Late sunsets. Daylight saving means Diwali night starts late. Sunset in Melbourne on Sunday 8 November is 8:03pm. Do the flowers in the afternoon and light the candles once it's properly dark.
- Wind. Floating candles blow out easily on an open step. A sheltered porch, or an urli just inside the door, will burn far more reliably.
- Fire rules outdoors. If you're lighting diyas on a veranda or garden path, check whether a Total Fire Ban has been declared for your area that day. On a Total Fire Ban day no fire can be lit in the open air. Indoors is the safe default.
- Mosquitoes. Change the water every day or two. It keeps the flowers fresh and stops a bowl of still water becoming a mosquito nursery as the evenings warm up.
Keeping it fresh across all five days
Many families set the urli up on Dhanteras (Friday 6 November) and keep it going through to Bhai Dooj (Tuesday 10 November). Lift out wilted flowers each morning, top up or change the water, and replace candles as they burn down. On the main night, Sunday 8 November, add a fresh layer of marigolds before Lakshmi Puja. For what each of the five days is for and what belongs on the table, see our Diwali 2026 in Australia guide.
Want the whole table, not just the bowl?
Two urlis come as finished centrepiece sets, priced below the cost of the pieces bought separately:
- Gajgamini Brass Urli Grand Centrepiece Set: the brass urli with a gold hammered platter and two grey glass votives.
- Kanchan Urli Festive Centrepiece Set: the Kanchan urli with a large gold leaf platter and two grey glass votives.
Buying for someone else? An urli is one of the most-gifted Diwali pieces. See our Diwali gift ideas for every budget and the Diwali gift sets.
After Diwali: caring for your urli
Empty the bowl, wash it in warm soapy water and dry it completely before putting it away. Brass darkens naturally over time; our brass care guide covers bringing the shine back. Gold-finish aluminium urlis just need a soft cloth. Skip scourers and metal polish, which can wear through the finish. And there's no need to pack it away until next year: an urli with a few floating flowers works on a coffee table any week of the year.
When to order for Diwali
We post orders within one business day, and Australia Post takes 2–4 business days anywhere in Australia. Couriers get busy in late October and delays are outside our control, so for an urli or diyas in the house for Diwali night, order by Friday 30 October. If you want it set up for Dhanteras, order by Monday 26 October.
Frequently asked questions
What is an urli used for at Diwali?
An urli is a wide, shallow bowl filled with water, flowers and floating candles. At Diwali it's placed at the entrance or beside the Lakshmi Puja as a welcome, and is usually ringed with diyas.
Where should an urli be placed for Diwali?
The most common spot is at or just inside the main entrance. In Vastu tradition the north-east corner and the centre of the home are also suggested for a bowl of water and flowers. Beside the puja and on the dining table are popular too.
What do you put in an urli?
Water to about two-thirds full, floating candles, and flower heads such as marigolds, rose petals or jasmine. Cut flowers down to the head so they float flat, and keep petals clear of the candle wicks.
Can you put a brass diya in an urli?
Not in the water. A brass diya is solid metal and will sink. Use floating candles in the water and place brass diyas around the outside of the urli instead.
How often should you change the water in an urli?
Every day or two. Fresh water keeps flowers looking better for longer and, in an Australian spring, stops still water attracting mosquitoes.
Is a brass urli better than a gold-finish one?
Neither is better; they suit different jobs. Solid brass is heavier, very stable and a lasting heirloom piece. A gold-finish aluminium urli is much lighter, so it's easier to carry, empty and refill each day.
When should I order an urli to arrive before Diwali 2026 in Australia?
Order by Friday 30 October 2026 for Diwali on Sunday 8 November, or by Monday 26 October for Dhanteras on Friday 6 November. Orders are posted within one business day and Australia Post takes 2–4 business days.
Wishing you a bright and happy Diwali.
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