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Symbolic Significance of the Main Door in a Hindu Home

The main door in a Hindu home is of great significance. It is decorated with toran and other religious auspicious things. It is symbolically the boundary between the inner and the outer world.

The inside is pure and all the negative forces outside are stopped at the main door.

Only auspicious things are allowed to enter through the door. Goddess Lakshmi is welcomed through the front door with Purna Kumbha, toran, mango leaves, rice plant, sugarcane, rangoli, painting of feet etc.


Similarly, Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is kept outside and stopped at the main door by offering lemon and green chilly. She eats the sour and pungent food and goes away from the house.

Just like how we are careful not to let anything bad, negative and inauspicious into the house, we should block all negative forces from entering into our mind and intellect. It should be kept pure just like the house. We should be well aware of what we read, hear and listen. Our thoughts should be purified before they are given a place in our mind.

In some regions, children and other family members are advised not to sit it on entrance door (doorway). This is because Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu had annihilated demon Hiranyakashipu on the doorway. One of the boons that Hiranyakashipu had got from Brahma was that he will not be killed inside or outside any type of residence.

Some of the items that are hung or used on the front door in a Hindu home include
  • Pumpkin
  • Horseshoe
  • In some regions, a face (mask) with protruding eyes, big mustache, and a tongue, is kept on the front door. This is to keep out negative forces.
  • Colorful rangoli
  • White color rangoli using rice powder
  • Mango leaves
  • Ashoka tree leaves
  • Plantain
  • Flowers (yellow, green and orange colors are widely used)
  • Leaves
  • Paddy
  • Sugarcane
  • Swastik
  • Om