Rangoli

The term rangoli is derived from words rang (colour) and aavalli (row of colours). As the name suggests it is made with beautiful and vibrant of colors. Rangoli has a religious significane enhancing the beauty of the surroundings and spreading joy and happiness all over the place . You can find many rangoli pattern in front of houses which are worthy and fascinating too. The traditional form of rangoli is made of dots interconnecting one another for decorative purpose. It is customary for Indian women to put rangoli in front of houses - so that the godess laxmi of wealth, approaches the door bringing in good fortune for her devote family.

In contemporary science, rangoli is dying slowly. Many people live in high rise modern apartments and builidings, the art of rangoli is no longer feasible. My mother helped me in making many rangoli patterns with new ideas. But now i miss that precious moments. This, is now the stuff of memories.

Any type of theme can be covered in rangoli it depends only upon our imagination.

Themes in rangoli

Rangoli's are of various types themes.

Religious Theme

It is drawn with images of gods and goddess.

Festival Theme

It is drawn at the time of diwali, onam, pongal, new year, christmas. It consists of lamps, flowers, bells, santa etc.,

Natural Theme

It contains flowers, leaves, insects and whatever we see around us.

Theme oriented

In competition as per theme given to contestant images are made.

Materials to make rangoli

Rice powder

A fine grained rice powder is a traditional medium used in ancient days and now.

Rangoli colors

Readily available in shops. Easy and fast to use.

Pulses

Food grains like dals, cereals, rice can be used by mixing with colours. It must be dried well before using. It needs previous preparations.

Chalk powder

Mix fabric paint with chalk powder in small quantity and allow to dry. It gives fine texture to rangoli.

Sand

Mix fabric paint with sand of fine size and dry it previously. It needs an outline to look effectively.

Flowers

Different kinds of flower petals are used to make rangoli.

Salt

Mix colour powders with salt and allow to dry. use the dried powder to fill. It gives an embossed and glittering look.

Coconut

With the grated coconut mix colour powder and allow to dry. The preparation process takes time. But rangoli looks good and embossed.

Tips and Tricks

1.Clean the area without dirt where the rangoli is to made so that color of the rangoli come out properly.

2.Draw the rangoli at a spot where you do not expect visitors to walk often else they may end up in threading on the rangoli.

3.use dry powder to make rangoli. Wet powder will make stains on the floor sometimes it may damage the look of whole rangoli.

4.Based on the occasion choose the designs. For example: Light diyas in diwali, karthigai. put some sugarcane, pot designs at the time of pongal. Even you can decorate with flowers.

5. To get a uniform look use seives to put colours.