Rangoli is a very famous form of art among people of India. The rangoli is drawn to propitiate the deity to bring good luck, happiness and prosperity into homes. Colorful design is made on clean ground. These designs are usually made from rice powder or colorful sand powder. Some rangolis are made from various colorful flowers and some are made using whole grain.
Here are examples of rangoli form used in different parts of India.
Alpana- Powdered Rice Rangoli
Alpana is a form of Rangoli which is prevalent in West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.
It is drawn on the entrance of the door, in the temple, in front of the deity at home.
Alpana is drawn during weddings and festivals or to mark any happy occasion.
The designs are made with the powder rice. This powder is sometime mixed with turmeric powder, sea shell powder to get various shades.
Colored Powder Rangoli –Colored Sand Art
In Maharashtra and other western parts of India, Colorful sand drawings are made on the entrance or doorstep during festival of Diwali (festival of lights) to welcome Goddess Laxmi. Designs include peacocks, lotus, flowers, creepers, swastikas, Om, symmetrical patterns etc
Colored Rice and Grain Rangoli
Rangoli made from whole colored rice and whole grains are prevalent mostly in Gujarat. This form of art is found throughout India.Rice is mixed in various color and then laid out in beautiful pattern on the ground. Similarly whole grains like moong, matki, rajma, tuvar dal, colored sabudana is used to form colorful rangoli designs
Flower Rangoli
Rangoli made from flowers are more prominent in South India. Rangolis are made on festivals and during wedding or puja.
Flowers are first broken into petals and leaves are cut into small pieces.
Flowers are then arranged according to the colors on the ground and leaves are generally used as fillers or borders. Decorative lamps are placed near rangoli to add to its beauty.
Posted by Radha Chetan Raj at 6/15/2008 06:09:00 PM 2 comments Links to this post
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