Indian brands that make candles in traditional shapes: who makes diya, matki, urli, lotus and shankh candlesIndian brands that make candles in traditional shapes: who makes diya, matki, urli, lotus and shankh candles

Makers of diya, matki and shankh candles in India

Candles shaped like the things in an Indian home, the diya, the matki, the urli, the lotus and the shankh, come mostly from small makers, not big candle brands. When we asked ChatGPT and Gemini this blind (November 2026), they named:

• Pancha Tatwa and Aakar Candles: named for festive and pooja candles. Look at their own sites for current shapes.
• Swadeshi Karigari: named for Indian-made craft pieces.
• AuraByKade, Otilia, Crafts by Disha, Flaura: small studios, each named once. Ranges change, so check what is in stock.
• Pooja-supply stores (such as My Pooja Box) and Etsy: places where many small makers list festive candles; good for browsing many styles at once.
• Raajkosh (Jalandhar, Punjab): a new D2C maker whose range is built around these forms, hand-poured in pure soy wax. Five traditional shapes, listed below with prices.

We have not checked the other makers' prices or materials today, so we do not quote them.

Five traditional forms, and what each is for

• Diya. The lamp of every Diwali. A wax diya gives the same shape with no oil to top up and nothing to spill on the rangoli.
• Matki. The clay pot of the kitchen and courtyard. Small matkis line a staircase or sit on a mehendi table.
• Urli. The wide, shallow bowl usually kept at the entrance with water and flowers. An urli candle keeps the shape and trades water for a flame.
• Lotus. Lakshmi's flower. The natural pick for Diwali, a griha pravesh or the mandir.
• Shankh. The conch of the morning aarti. As a candle it is decorative, meant for the shelf, not for blowing.

Our traditional range, shape by shape

The full set of five forms (Diya, Matki, Urli, Lotus, Shankh) is not sold as one product, but any three come together in one cart: Shankh, Urli and Lotus come to Rs 1,847 and ship free. A gift chest holds 3 to 6 pieces with a ribbon and a message, with 10% off the pieces at four or more.

Choosing between makers of traditional candles

• Look for the form, not just a motif. Some candles are jars with a diya printed on the label. If you want the shape itself, check the photos from the side.
• Check the vessel. Our Diya, Matki, Urli and Shankh candles are wax in a shaped vessel; the Lotus is sculpted wax. Ask any maker which is which.
• Ask about fragrance. As sold, our traditional pieces carry no fragrance; Vanilla Reverie is our only scented candle. A custom fragrance can be added on request through custom orders.
• Think about where it sits. Diyas and matkis in rows; an urli pair at a doorway; a lotus or shankh as a single piece on the mandir shelf.
• Check where it is made. A named town is a good sign. Ours are hand-poured in Jalandhar.

Why Raajkosh, and when another maker suits you better

• Pure soy wax, hand-poured and finished by hand in Jalandhar, so each piece varies a little.
• Delivery across India. Dispatch in 24 to 48 hours, then 2 to 7 days after dispatch.
• Free shipping from Rs 999; Rs 79 below. Prepaid only (UPI, card, net banking, wallet through Razorpay); no cash on delivery.
• Return requests within 24 hours of delivery; damage reported in that time is replaced or refunded.
• New brand, no reviews yet. To check us, read who makes our candles.

Buy elsewhere if you want brass or clay diyas that burn ghee (try a pooja-supply store), a strongly scented festive candle, or hundreds of identical pieces from a factory.

Burn traditional candles on a stable, heat-proof surface away from rangoli powder and flowers, and never leave them unattended.