Diwali 2026: Meet this Girgaon family keeping the tradition of making lanterns alive for over five decades

The city is beginning to wear its festive finery Windows are glowing doorways are being adorned with strings of lights and colourful lanterns are finding their place on balconies and windows There is something magical about watching a lantern illuminate a home and transform its surroundings with warmth and festive cheer But have you ever wondered why we hang a lantern during Diwali beyond its decorative appealTraditionally known as Akashdeep these lanterns carry a significance that goes back generations Hung high outside homes they are believed to guide ancestral spirits welcome Goddess Lakshmi and symbolise the victory of light over darkness Sadly as shopfronts and awnings are decked up with factorymade decorations and imported alternatives the traditional art of handmade kandilmaking risks losing its visibilityFrom left Dnyaneshwar Khanolkar Smita Khanolkar Mitali KhanolkarThe Khanolkar family of Girgaon is keeping this craft alive At 63 Dnyaneshwar Khanolkar has spent nearly five decades practising an art he fell in love with as a child His wife Smita Khanolkar and daughter Mitali are now his companions in carrying the family tradition forward Mitalirsquos earliest memories of Diwali include sitting beside her father watching him work and gradually learning to make the lanterns herself What began as a childhood pastime has become a shared pursuit When Dnyaneshwar spoke about his daughterrsquos efforts his voice faltered with emotionA glimpse of the kandilmaking process at Kamat Chawl GirgaonldquoI am very proud that my daughter is working so hard to take my passion aheadrdquo he said An architect by profession Mitali wanted her fatherrsquos craftsmanship to reach a wider audience Having struggled to find the kind of kandils she wanted in the market she decided to take their creations to more people ldquoDad used to make kandils but I wanted to give his work more recognition He has worked so hard and has many dedicated clients I wanted to expand it to a larger scalerdquo she said She built a digital presence for the venture by creating a social media page and catalogue under the name Mitali Khanolkar Aakash Kandil Suppliers which her father had started in her nameThe craft remains an entirely familyrun affair The trio create every kandil from scratch without employing other artisans They use kite paper silk and raw silk to create traditional designs as well as customised pieces featuring logos and themes for events Even housing society orders exceeding 100 identical lanterns are completed by the trio Dnyaneshwar personally oversees the finishing because he believes the quality of their work requires their involvement at every stage ldquoThe three of us complete the entire process It takes a lot of hard work and effortrdquo he sharedShoppers at Kandil Galli Mahim File PicTheir creations travel to Gujarat Karad Sangli and the Konkan They also receive international orders from countries like the UAE and Canada Special packaging protects the delicate lanterns during transit while exhibitions and customised commissions keep them occupied beyond DiwaliFor Mitali this initiative is also about ensuring that younger generations remain familiar with the tradition Having grown up making kandils at home with her parents she wants children to experience that connection ldquoTodayrsquos children should at least be aware of our traditions and how these kandils are made I want to continue this so the art can sustainrdquo she saidWhen one of these lanterns lights up a balcony this Diwali it will carry more than festive cheer It will hold a fatherrsquos lifelong devotion a daughterrsquos affection and a familyrsquos determination to keep its traditions glowingLog on to mitalikhanolkarCALL 9594220356Shop till the lights shinegtgt Bhuleshwar MarketAT Kabutar Khana Bhuleshwar Marine Lines Eastgtgt Lohar ChawlAT Lohar Chawl Pathakwadi Kalbadevigtgt Matunga MarketAT Lakhamsi Nappu Road Matunga Eastgtgt Heera Panna Shopping CentreAT Bhulabhai Desai Road opposite Haji Ali Juice Centre Haji Aligtgt Dadar MarketAT Ranade Road and NC Kelkar Road Dadar Westgtgt RRT Road MarketAT RRT Road near Mulund railway station Mulund Westgtgt Gokhale Road and Ram Maruti RoadAT Gokhale Road and Ram Maruti Road Thane Westgtgt Natraj MarketAT Natraj Market SV Road Malad West