To learn how to make akash kandil the easy way, you need two sheets of A3 chart paper, a sheet of tissue or kite paper, glue, tape, string and a battery LED light. Ityadi Studios calls it a five-step job you can finish at a table in an afternoon. Diwali is on Sunday 8 November 2026, so go paper, not bamboo.
Key takeaways
- A basic paper akash kandil needs 2 sheets of A3 chart paper, tissue or kite paper, glue, tape, string and a battery LED light.
- Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November and Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, so only the paper version is realistic now.
- The traditional bamboo version needs 32 sticks of 19 cm plus 4 sticks of 40 cm, tied with thread and fixed with Fevicol.
- No source publishes a rupee total or build time, so price each item on the cost sheet at your local stationery shop.
- Use a battery LED tea light, not a flame, inside any paper or cloth kandil.
| Diwali 2026 main day | Sunday 8 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras 2026 | Friday 6 November 2026 |
| Paper kandil materials | 2 sheets A3 chart paper, tissue or kite paper, glue, tape, string, LED light |
| Bamboo kandil sticks | 32 sticks of 19 cm plus 4 sticks of 40 cm |
| Build time | An afternoon (Ityadi Studios); no measured time published |
| Cost in rupees | Not published anywhere; fill in the cost sheet below |
What is an akash kandil and why hang one before 8 November?
An akash kandil is a Diwali lantern hung outside the home. "Akash" means sky and "kandil" means lantern, as Ityadi Studios explains. You will also see it spelt aakash kandil or akash kandeel. Knowing the traditional form helps you choose how to make akash kandil at home in a style your family recognises.
Diwali also belongs to Sikh and Jain communities and stands for the victory of light over darkness. The name comes from the Sanskrit "Dipavali", a row of lights.
In Goa, the traditional kandil was a bamboo frame, cut to size and glued, then covered with coloured opaque paper. Konkani speakers call that paper "folli". Some families used fine cloth or even a saree, according to Herald Goa. The same report says a community kandil in Portais, Panjim, about 40 feet tall, has been built since 2008 and is now a Diwali attraction.
I am not giving an origin story, because the sources I found are thin and one contradicts the hanging tradition.
Diwali 2026 dates: when your kandil needs to be up
Today is Tuesday 3 November. The festival begins in three days, per Farmers’ Almanac, and Vedantu confirms the main day is 8 November, not 9 November.
| Day | Date | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 6 Nov 2026 | Dhanteras |
| 2 | Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdashi |
| 3 | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja |
| Festival ends | Tue 10 Nov 2026 | Final day of the five-day festival |
I could not verify the names of days four and five, so I left them out. Check an official panchang for Lakshmi Puja timings, which I did not retrieve.
How to make akash kandil in an afternoon: what it needs and what it costs
Making an akash kandil from paper needs two A3 sheets of chart paper, one sheet of tissue or kite paper, glue, tape, string and a battery LED light. Ityadi Studios says it takes an afternoon and suits kids. A bamboo kandil demands more patience and more parts.
| Item | Paper kandil (Ityadi Studios) | Bamboo kandil (YouTube tutorials) |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | 2 sheets A3 chart paper or card | 32 bamboo sticks of 19 cm plus 4 of 40 cm |
| Covering | Tissue or kite paper | Cloth-type paper, opaque coloured paper or fabric |
| Fixing | Glue stick or craft glue, tape | Thread plus Fevicol |
| Light | Battery LED light | Not specified in the sources I read |
| Time and cost | Not published | Not published |
No page I could verify gives a rupee total or a measured build time, and I would rather say so than invent a number. The cost sheet below lets you price your own at a stationery shop.
Materials list for a paper lantern DIY Diwali project
For this paper lantern DIY Diwali project you need chart paper, tissue or kite paper, glue, tape, string and an LED light. Everything except the light is a stationery-shop item.
- Chart paper or thin card: 2 sheets in different colours, A3 or bigger.
- Tissue paper or kite paper: 1 sheet. The glow comes from this layer.
- Small card base: a scrap square or circle to close the bottom.
- Glue and tape: a glue stick or Fevicol, plus transparent tape.
- String: for the hanging loop.
- Battery LED tea light: the safe light source.
- Scissors, ruler, pencil: a craft knife if an adult is cutting.
Substitutions are easy. Thin card works in place of chart paper, as Ityadi notes, and kite paper and tissue paper are interchangeable. That makes how to make akash kandil on a budget a matter of using what is already in your drawer.
Your cost sheet: fill it in at the shop
Prices vary by city and brand, so this table is blank. Write in what you pay and add it up.
| Item | Quantity | Your price (Rs) |
|---|---|---|
| A3 chart paper | 2 sheets | Fill in |
| Tissue or kite paper | 1 sheet | Fill in |
| Glue stick or Fevicol | 1 | Fill in |
| Tape, string | 1 each | Fill in |
| Battery LED light | 1 | Fill in |
| Total | Fill in |
Where do you get a template for akash kandil making at home?
You can draw one in two minutes, which suits akash kandil making at home. A simple slit-and-curl lantern starts from a paper strip about 24 cm by 12 cm, which fits on a single A4 sheet. No standard Indian metric template exists online that I could verify, so use these measurements.
The 24 x 12 cm figure comes from Royal Museums Greenwich. Its method draws two lines 2 cm in from the top and bottom edges, then cuts slits between them. Roll the strip into a cylinder and the slit panels bow outward into a lantern shape.
- Small version: 24 cm x 12 cm strip, 2 cm margins top and bottom. Fits an A4 sheet.
- Bigger version from A3 chart paper: keep the same 2:1 proportion and widen the margins a little. The scaling is mine, not a tested figure, so cut a practice strip first.
- Flower decoration: The Little Crafties uses 6 squares of 7 x 7 cm for the cylinder and 12 squares of 3 x 3 cm cut into petals.
The Crafty Angels offers a printable for A4 or larger, but it is a Western-style lantern. Red Ted Art works in inches: an 8-inch tall, 4-inch wide triangular lantern needs cardstock cut 8 x 12.5 inches. A pencil and ruler are all the template you need to learn how to make akash kandil at home without a printer.
Step-by-step: how to make Diwali lantern with paper
Putting the slit-and-curl method together with the Ityadi Studios materials list gives this order. Mark the lines and slits in pencil, cut the slits, roll the strip into a cylinder so the panels bow outward, and line it with tissue or kite paper. Close the bottom with the card base, tie a string loop to the top centre and put the LED tea light inside last. The order is my reading of the two sources, so test it on a spare strip first.
How to make a paper akash kandil
A five-step slit-and-curl paper lantern using chart paper, tissue or kite paper, glue and a battery LED light.
- Mark the strip. Cut a 24 x 12 cm strip from coloured chart paper. Draw a pencil line 2 cm in from the top edge and another 2 cm in from the bottom edge.
- Cut the slits. Mark evenly spaced slits between the two lines and cut along them, leaving the top and bottom margins uncut. Use a ruler so the slits stay straight.
- Line it with tissue. Glue a sheet of tissue or kite paper behind the slit area, using a thin line of glue near the edges so the paper does not wrinkle.
- Roll it into a lantern. Roll the strip into a cylinder and glue the overlapping edge, holding it with tape until it sets. Gently push the ends together so the slit panels bow outward.
- Add base, string and light. Glue a small card base to the bottom, thread string through the top and knot it into a loop. Drop a battery LED tea light inside and hang it.
Mark every slit before you cut and space them evenly so the lantern bows out evenly. If kids are helping, an adult should do the cutting, as Red Ted Art advises. That is how to make akash kandil from paper at its simplest, and tails or tassels from leftover tissue strips make a good finishing touch.
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How do you make a bamboo stick akash kandil the traditional way?
A bamboo stick akash kandil uses 32 thin bamboo sticks of 19 cm and 4 sticks of 40 cm, tied with thread and fixed with Fevicol, then covered with paper or cloth. It is slower than paper, so the traditional version of how to make akash kandil is not realistic before 8 November unless you already have sticks.
Those counts come from a 2021 YouTube tutorial pitched as eco-friendly, with cloth-type paper instead of plastic. A Marathi tutorial also uses 32 very thin sticks. Neither gives the tying method in writing, so lay out the sticks, bind each joint with thread, dab Fevicol on the knots and let the frame dry completely before covering it.
What do bamboo sticks cost?
IndiaMART listings in Delhi run from about Rs 30 to Rs 99 per piece, and a Hyderabad listing is about Rs 125 per kg, as of November 2026. Those are general bamboo items, not craft-grade thin sticks, so do not multiply by 36 and trust the answer. Ask at a local craft or puja-supplies shop.
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What else people ask about making an akash kandil
What is an akash kandil?
An akash kandil is a Diwali lantern hung outside the home. Akash means sky and kandil means lantern. It is also spelt aakash kandil or akash kandeel, and it can be made of paper, bamboo and cloth.
Why do we hang an akash kandil on Diwali?
Diwali symbolises the victory of light over darkness, and its name comes from the Sanskrit Dipavali, a row of lights. A glowing lantern at the door fits that idea. I found no reliable source for a specific origin, so I will not state one.
How many bamboo sticks do you need for an akash kandil?
One 2021 tutorial uses 32 bamboo sticks of 19 cm plus 4 sticks of 40 cm, tied with thread and fixed with Fevicol. A Marathi tutorial also uses 32 very thin sticks. Counts vary by design, so follow your chosen tutorial.
Can kids make an akash kandil?
Yes. Ityadi Studios describes the paper version as five simple steps, fine for kids. Let an adult do the cutting, as Red Ted Art advises, and give children the gluing, tissue lining and decorating. Use an LED light, never a flame.
Which side of the door should an akash kandil be hung on?
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti says outside the main door on the right side, as seen from inside the house. That is one organisation's guidance, not a universal rule, so follow your family's tradition if it differs.
Is it safe to put a candle or diya inside a paper lantern?
No. Paper, tissue and cloth catch fire easily. Use a battery LED tea light, and keep any real diya on the ground, well away from the lantern.
What else people ask about making an akash kandil
What is an akash kandil?
An akash kandil is a Diwali lantern hung outside the home. Akash means sky and kandil means lantern. It is also spelt aakash kandil or akash kandeel, and it can be made of paper, bamboo and cloth.
Why do we hang an akash kandil on Diwali?
Diwali symbolises the victory of light over darkness, and its name comes from the Sanskrit Dipavali, a row of lights. A glowing lantern at the door fits that idea. I found no reliable source for a specific origin, so I will not state one.
How many bamboo sticks do you need for an akash kandil?
One 2021 tutorial uses 32 bamboo sticks of 19 cm plus 4 sticks of 40 cm, tied with thread and fixed with Fevicol. A Marathi tutorial also uses 32 very thin sticks. Counts vary by design, so follow your chosen tutorial.
Can kids make an akash kandil?
Yes. Ityadi Studios describes the paper version as five simple steps, fine for kids. Let an adult do the cutting, as Red Ted Art advises, and give children the gluing, tissue lining and decorating. Use an LED light, never a flame.
Which side of the door should an akash kandil be hung on?
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti says outside the main door on the right side, as seen from inside the house. That is one organisation's guidance, not a universal rule, so follow your family's tradition if it differs.
Is it safe to put a candle or diya inside a paper lantern?
No. Paper, tissue and cloth catch fire easily. Use a battery LED tea light, and keep any real diya on the ground, well away from the lantern.
Featured image: Image by magnific on Freepik
