The Versatility of Urli: Innovative Ways to Incorporate it in Your Home

Urli, also known as a decorative bowl or a vessel, is a versatile and beautiful home accessory that can add a touch of elegance and charm to any space. Initially used in traditional Indian homes for various purposes, Urli has gained popularity worldwide due to its versatility and aesthetic appeal.

Why is Urlis so Popular in India?

South Indian Urlis are widely used as decorative items and functional vessels. Apart from this, these find innovative uses due to the following reasons -

• Metal Urlis are often decorative in homes, gardens, and temples. They are usually placed or used to adorn entrances and courtyards.
• Urlis is believed to bring positive energy and good luck according to ancient Indian practices like Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui. It is thought that the presence of water in the Urlis helps attract positive vibrations and purifies the surrounding environment. As a result, many households and businesses in South India prefer to have Urlis as part of their decor to promote harmony and prosperity.
• The brass and bronze Urlis carry intricate designs that capture the attention of all your visitors. Their amazing shine and appearance add an aesthetic appeal to the surroundings.
• Clay Urlis are known for their natural cooling effect as the water in the Urlis evaporates, creating a pleasant and refreshing atmosphere. This makes them particularly popular in courtyards, gardens, and outdoor spaces, where people can enjoy the cool breeze.
• The Urli is often filled with water, and small oil lamps or candles are lit and floated on the water's surface. This creates a beautiful display of flickering lights and unique scents. Such decoration is often done during festivals, weddings, and special occasions nationwide.
• The sound of water flowing and rose petals in clay Urlis is considered soothing and inviting, creating a welcoming ambience for guests.
• In South Indian religious ceremonies and rituals, bronze Urlis hold sacred water and other ceremonial offerings. In Hindu temples, Urlis are often placed near the entrance or in the main sanctum, where water is poured into them as an offering to deities. This practice has been followed for centuries and has become a cherished tradition in the region. They are a symbol of purity and devotion.
• Many people in South India consider Urlis an essential element of interior design, adding a touch of elegance to their homes. Some more significant metal Urlis called Varpu can be used as water features in gardens or outdoor settings. Water is poured into the Urli, creating a fountain-like effect as it cascades over the sides and back into the vessel. This adds a soothing element to the environment.

What are the Innovative Ways to Incorporate it in Your Home?

Here are some innovative ways to incorporate versatile Urlis in your home:

1. Place an Urli filled with fresh flowers or floating candles as a stunning centrepiece on your dining table or coffee table. It instantly adds a sense of natural beauty and sophistication to your space.
2. Create a miniature indoor garden by filling an Urli with soil, small bonsai or cactus, or moss. This unique display will bring a touch of nature indoors and act as a conversation starter.
3. Choose an Urli to display fresh fruits. Its wide and shallow shape allows for easy access to the fruits, while the metallic finish of the Urli adds a touch of luxury to your kitchen or dining area.
4. You can fill a well-designed Urli with fragrant potpourri and place it in your living room or balcony. The open design of the Urli will allow the scent to disperse gently, creating a pleasant and inviting ambience.
5. Fill an Urli with water and float scented candles or tea lights. Light them up during evenings to create a serene and romantic atmosphere in your home. You can also add flower petals or small decorative items to enhance the visual appeal.
6. You can double up your Urli as an incense holder by placing a small plate or a heat-resistant container in the centre and placing the incense sticks in it. The Urli will catch any falling ash, keeping your space clean and adding an ethnic touch to your incense ritual.
7. Place an Urli on your bathroom countertop or shelf to hold small essentials like cotton balls, bath salts, or soaps. It adds a unique and decorative element to your bathroom while keeping your requirements within easy reach.
8. Place a small Urli on your bookshelf or entryway as a decorative accessory. You can fill it with colourful stones, seashells, or small trinkets that complement the overall theme of your space.

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9. Opt for a large Urli with water and place it in your garden or patio to create a stunning reflective pool or bird bath. You can also use smaller Urli to hold outdoor candles or as a decorative element in your garden.
10. Fill a bronze Urli with decorative items like colourful marbles, polished stones, or decorative beads and place it near your entrance as a welcoming display. It sets a positive tone for guests entering your home.
11. Create a serene and peaceful meditation corner by placing an Urli filled with sand or pebbles. Add a small tabletop Zen garden or a miniature Buddha statue for a calming and reflective atmosphere.
12. Choose flowers with vibrant colours and place the Urli in your living room or bedroom to create a stunning and visually captivating floral display.
13. Transform your Urli into a natural aromatherapy diffuser by placing drops of your favourite essential oil onto decorative stones or wooden balls inside the bowl. The heat from a light tea candle underneath will gently release the aroma and create a soothing ambience.
14. Use an Urli as a standalone art piece by displaying it on a pedestal or shelf. Choose an antique Urli with intricate designs or a unique shape to create a striking visual focal point in your living room or hallway.
15. You can adorn the area around the Urli by adding elaborate rangoli and creating a stunning impact. Choosing bold colours that strike against the patina of the Urlis is considered a great idea. For religious events, choose symbols like OM, Ganesha or peacock to attract divine energies.
16. Place large pillar candles inside the copper or brass Urli to dramatically affect your dinner date.
17. Convert an Urli into a tranquil indoor fountain by placing a small water pump inside. The water will flow gently over the sides of the Urli, creating a calming and soothing atmosphere in any room. Arrange the stones artistically in the Urli, and it becomes a beautiful showcase of nature's wonders.
18. Choosing Manjadi seeds is a standard part of Kerala households. Suppose you have a small Urli and limited time; then decide to fill your Urli with bright red seeds. The same brings out the golden shade of the Urli and makes the colour pop against the shiny finish. For the best results, choose a small LED light or tea light to add to the charm for an evening party. It is recommended to fill the Urli but not overflow the same.
19. Choose a small brass lamp and moss. Now place moss inside the Urli and then place the light or idol to create unique beauty. The beautiful greens make events memorable and fun.

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What are Benefits of Choosing Urlis?

There are numerous spiritual and cultural benefits of choosing Urlis for your home and gifting purpose:

• Keeping close contact with the natural displays and flowers in the Urli helps to reduce anxiety and stress. It also helps to develop a pleasant and welcoming environment for guests. Therefore, you enjoy a better home and fragrant interiors.
• Since Urlis have elements like water and flowers, these can boost the harmony of the place. Hence, placing these in hotels, businesses, etc., is recommended.
• Vastu elements in the Urli help to boost the abundance in the household. This is possible by getting control over the Pancha Bhoota elements. Since Urlis have control over the five natural forces, the same is an effective removal of the negative vibes and energies.
• It also helps to protect against the evil eye, black magic, etc. It also protects against bad aura in any place or older home.

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Where Can Urli Be Placed?

To get the maximum benefits, the Urli must be placed in the right direction to attain peace in the surroundings. These can be kept at any spot to attract visibility. Here are a few places where these can be placed to achieve the best results -

1. In the pooja room and the front of idols,
2. At the main entrance of the house,
3. At the centre of the living room,
4. Anywhere around the house as a central decor item,
5. In open spaces for achieving harmony of space,
6. At a table or over a stand (depending on the size and the dimensions of the room),
7. Anywhere on the floor with fresh flowers,
8. In the balcony or lobby with potpourri,
9. Inside the living room, along with other decoratives,

However, these must never be placed inside the bedroom along with flowers or diyas as it interferes with the Vastu of the space.