Jhalar vs Curtain vs String vs Rope Lights: Which Diwali Light Should You Buy?

Choose by shape. Curtain (jhalar) lights fill flat spaces such as a door, a window or a wall. String lights wrap around things, like railings, pillars and plants. Rope lights draw a solid line of light along an edge. If you can buy only one light for Diwali, the Rosary 10M string, priced at Rs. 278, is the most flexible. If there is a blank door or wall to fill, add a curtain light. Rope costs more per metre, but it shows up from the street. The sections below put numbers on each choice, so you pay only for the effect you actually want.

How do the four types compare on look, coverage and price?

In shops, jhalar and curtain lights are mostly the same thing: strands that hang down like a fringe. A toran is the short version made for the top of a door. String and rope lights are the ones that follow a line.

How much light do you get for your money?

This is where string and rope part ways. The Rosary 10M has 46 LEDs spread over 10 metres, which works out to about 4.6 per metre. The rope strips have 120 LEDs in every metre. Rope is more than 25 times as dense, and that is why it looks like a continuous line while a string looks like a row of dots.

Rope costs about two and a half times as much per metre as the string, so spend that money only where the line will be seen. Think of a ledge, a ceiling edge or the front of a balcony facing the road. For everything else, the string gives you more length for less. Rope lights are also a different product from LED strip lights. Our strip light vs rope light guide explains when to use which.

Which light should you buy for each spot?

Main door: a Toran across the top of the frame. If the wall beside it is blank, add a curtain light there.

Window: a curtain light hung from the top of the frame. The Mannat Ball curtain light, priced at Rs. 319, and the Star curtain light, priced at Rs. 266, both suit a window.

Blank wall, behind the sofa or the mandir: a curtain light. A string would look thin across a wide wall.

Balcony railing: string for a dotted glow, rope for a solid line. Pick one so the railing does not look busy. Our balcony lights page has the full range.

Pillar, tree or plant: string, because it wraps easily.

Ledge, ceiling line or steps: rope, because it keeps a straight line.

Which type is easiest to put up?

Curtain lights are the quickest. You fix the top and the strands fall into place, and a Toran takes only a few minutes. String lights need fixing points along the way, because the wire sags between them. Rope lights need a straight, supported edge, and they look best when you fix them at regular points and bend them in wide curves rather than sharp corners. Check the product page for what comes in the box before you plan the fixings.

How should you combine them? Three ready sets

Most Diwali setups use two or three types together. The prices below are as on 6 October 2026, and each product page shows the latest price.

What goes wrong with each type, and how do you avoid it?

•       Curtain lights: the strands tangle in the box. Spread them on the floor, untangle them and test them before you climb up.

•       String lights: they sag between fixing points. Fix them at short, regular intervals.

•       Rope lights: a sharp bend can kink them. Take corners in a wide curve.

•       All of them: do not join sets beyond the limit printed on the product, and keep plugs and joins dry. Use a proper extension board if you need more sockets.

Jhalar, curtain, string or rope: FAQs

Q: Which Diwali light looks best from the street?

A: Rope. Its solid line of light reads clearly from a distance, while a string shows as separate dots. A curtain light is the next best, because the strands fill a large surface and catch the eye.

Q: Can I use curtain lights and string lights together on one balcony?

A: Yes, and it works well. Put the curtain light on the back wall or across a window, and run the string along the railing. Keep both in the same colour family so the balcony does not look busy.

Q: Are curtain lights better than string lights for a main door?

A: Usually, yes. A curtain light or a Toran hangs straight and frames the opening, while a string needs fixing points around the frame to look neat. Use a string at the door only if you want a thin outline.

Q: Is rope light worth the extra cost over string lights?

A: It is worth it where the line will be seen from outside. At Rs. 70.80 to Rs. 75.60 per metre against Rs. 27.80 for the Rosary 10M, rope costs more, but it gives a solid glow rather than dots. For wrapping or hidden corners, string is the better buy.

Q: Can I use different colours for Diwali (Deepavali) lights on the same balcony?

A: You can, but keep it to one main colour and one accent. The Rosary 10M comes in warm white, white, blue, green, pink, red and multicolour, so you can pair a warm white curtain light with one coloured string.

Decide the spots first, then match each one to the shape. The full range is on the decorative lights, and the Diwali gift packs are on the festive lights. For more ideas, see our Diwali lighting ideas for home.