Rangoli is one of the arts of India. It is a traditional way of decorating courtyards and walls of Indian houses, places of worship and sometimes eating places as well. The powder of white stone, lime, rice flour and other cheap paste is used to draw intricate patterns during Hindu festivals and are meant as sacred welcoming areas for the deities.
The ancient symbols have been passed on through the ages, from each generation to the one that followed, thus keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. Rangoli and similar practices are followed in different Indian states; in Tamil Nadu, one has Kolam, Madanae in Rajasthan, Chowkpurna in Northern India, Alpana in Bengal, Aripana in Bihar, and so on.
The purpose of Rangoli is decoration and it is thought to bring good luck. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally done by women, but over the years modern additions have been adopted. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, celebrations of marriages and other similar milestones and gatherings. Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, flower and petal shapes appropriate for the given celebrations, but they can also become very elaborate designs crafted by numerous people. The base material is usually dry or wet granulated rice or dry flour, to which Sindoor (vermillion), Haldi (tumeric) and other natural colours can be added. Chemical colours are a modern variation. Other materials include coloured sand and even flowers and petals, as in the case of Flower Rangolis.
Rangoli designs can be found by simply just searching for Rangoli patterns online, below is a link to Google images which shows a number of different patterns and below that is a link to a website that describes the history of Rangoli design and patterns in more detail:
www.google.co.uk/search?q=rangoli+patterns&hl=en&rlz
www.snaithprimary.eril.net/rang.htm
The ancient symbols have been passed on through the ages, from each generation to the one that followed, thus keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. Rangoli and similar practices are followed in different Indian states; in Tamil Nadu, one has Kolam, Madanae in Rajasthan, Chowkpurna in Northern India, Alpana in Bengal, Aripana in Bihar, and so on.
The purpose of Rangoli is decoration and it is thought to bring good luck. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally done by women, but over the years modern additions have been adopted. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, celebrations of marriages and other similar milestones and gatherings. Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, flower and petal shapes appropriate for the given celebrations, but they can also become very elaborate designs crafted by numerous people. The base material is usually dry or wet granulated rice or dry flour, to which Sindoor (vermillion), Haldi (tumeric) and other natural colours can be added. Chemical colours are a modern variation. Other materials include coloured sand and even flowers and petals, as in the case of Flower Rangolis.
Rangoli designs can be found by simply just searching for Rangoli patterns online, below is a link to Google images which shows a number of different patterns and below that is a link to a website that describes the history of Rangoli design and patterns in more detail:
www.google.co.uk/search?q=rangoli+patterns&hl=en&rlz
www.snaithprimary.eril.net/rang.htm
