Rangoli is a popular colorful design made on floor or say floor art of India. To give a warm welcome to the guests, beautiful Rangolis are drawn outside the main gate of the house. It is believed that the deities visit the households that are nicely adorned on the occasion of Diwali. Diwali Rangoli designs differ from region to region in India. At Diwali, Hindus draw bright Rangoli patterns to encourage the goddess Lakshmi to enter their homes. It is an auspicious art of decorating courtyards and prayer halls in India drawn mainly by women and girls.
The art of Rangoli is known by different names in different regions of the country. Here is brief description of different name and meaning of Rangoli.
1) Rangoli in Kerala is called Puvidal. Puvidal is derived from 'Puv' means flower and 'idal' means arrangement.
2) Rangoli is Bengal is known as Alpana and it’s a natural representation of the artistic sensibility of the people.
3) Kolam is another name for Rangoli; it’s mainly drawn mainly during Onum. Onam is the state festival of Kerala
4) Rangoli in Andhra Pradesh is called a Muggu. The Rangoli is made using a thick batter of rice flour.
5) In Karnataka this form of art is called as Rangoli only.
6) Rangoli in Rajasthan is called Mandana. Mandana drawings were done on mud layered walls of homes, on public walls and chowks.
7) Aipan forms of Rangoli, practiced in the state of Uttarakhand, now Uttaranchal.
8) Aripana art form is a variation of the Rangoli, practiced in the Bihar.
Rangoli were originally done in small patterns of about 2 foot square, but now entire areas of floor can be covered in intricate designs, often produced by first drawing gridlines in light chalk. Most of the Rangoli designs are made with the use of dry colors; the patterns can also be done by using the paste of rice grains, turmeric paste, vermilion powder or chalk. So, this Diwali, use the Rangoli decoration ideas given below and bring a sense of completion in the joyous celebration of the festival.
There are myriad ways to add to the overall appeal of Rangoli. The designs of Rangoli are created by a combination of different colors. It could be decorated either by colored powders or by colored pastes such as painting colors. You can enhance the beauty of your Rangoli pattern by adding some decorative pieces to it, such as the lighted diyas, colorful flower petals and leaves, colored rice grains, colorful pulses, and colored sand. You may place a diya at the center of the Rangoli.
Designs
Originated from Maharashtra, the art of Rangoli is popular all over the country and therefore, different designs of Rangoli have come into existence. The Rangoli designs for Diwali have been passed on from one generation to the other, some of them being as old as hundred years. Although the designs vary largely, in different regions of India, the basic approach of the people is common – to please Goddess Lakshmi, so that she enters the home and brings in health, wealth and prosperity. Generally, the Rangoli designs are geometrical shapes, proportioned in a balanced way. Geometrical figures such as circles, triangles, squares, ovals and rectangles dominate. Apart from geometrical figures, images of flowers, their petals, trees and creepers are also drawn.
Themes
The common Rangoli themes are the holy symbols like Mangal kalash, leaves of Ashoka tree, Om, Swastika symbol, a lighted Deepak, Shree, lotus and other flowers, creepers, trees, rising sun, moon, stars, chakra, fish, birds, elephants, dancing figures, trident, human figures and geometrical figures such as circles, semi-circles, curves, triangles, squares, ovals and rectangles. The footsteps of Goddess Lakshmi entering into the home are designed at the main entrance of the home or near the place of worship, which indicates the entrance of prosperity in the home.
Different Types of Rangoli:
1) Rangoli Designs using Sand
2) Rangoli Designs using Flowers
3) Rangoli Designs using Salt
4) Rangoli design using Powder
5) Rangoli Designs using Pulses
6) Rangoli Designs using Rice
7) Rangoli designs using chalk
Material used to Draw Rangoli
1) Rangoli colors -> Gulals are readily available in the market, bring all the required color and while power. Mix gulal with white power to the get the required shade or color
2) Dried or Fresh flowers and leaves -> readily available in the market
3) Diya's/Candles -> Used to decorate and make the Rangoli look more beautiful.
4) Colored rice -> Soak the rice first then grind it to the fine texture. You can also color rice at home using food colors. Wet the food color powder with a few drops of water and rub the rice in it till it is uniformly colored. Do not forget to wear gloves to protect your hands from getting colored. Dry the rice on paper, in shade before use. If the rice is not completely dry it may leave colored stains on the floor
5) Colored Suzi/rawa/cream of wheat -> Nice grains, harder than saw dust easy to spread. but does not mix too well with color.
6) Petals -> Rose petals, marigold petals, small purple paper flowers, finely cut greens-grass/ leaves-even methi leaves. Just fill up the large designs. Use strings of marigold and if you like strings of kanakambara/ jasmine flowers to outline
7) Pulses/Cereals/grains -> Nice grains, harder than saw dust easy to spread but does not mix too well with color.
8) Fabric or poster color -> Mix a small quantity of color with chalk powder. Apply it with brush on the floor. It just looks like painting on floor not a traditional form of Rangoli , but it is scores over as it is very easy and is relatively permanent in nature
9) Colored stones -> Use this only for big and abstract rangolis as finesse is not possible with such materials
In order to design your Rangoli you have to follow below steps:
1) Decide your design for Rangoli to draw and decide colors:Design may be symmetrical, geometrical, simple design or a free hand outline for any theme based design/art/symbol/painting. You can draw your own Rangoli or you can find Rangoli books easily available in market or you can download Rangoli designs from internet.
2) Decide your medium and surface:To draw Rangoli look for a clean area/floor carefully. Wipe the floor with a wet cloth and wait for the area to dry.
3) Outline for Rangoli design:Depending upon the space available, decide and mark the center point of the Rangoli. With a piece of chalk or Rangoli powder, first draw the outline of the Rangoli design. If you have decided to put the dotted Rangoli, then draw the dots in the center position of the chosen area and then join the dots to accomplish the design.
4) Drawing Rangoli design:
Draw the Rangoli using chalk is its easy floor else used white powder to come up with outline and design completely
5) Filling color in the Rangoli design:Most interesting and challenging part of Rangoli design is coloring the Rangoli. If you are artist then color your own and you can also take help of internet to find some nice designs with awesome color combinations.
Tips and Trick for Rangoli design and coloring
1) Use chalk to put dots and draw the Rangoli design outline if its dry and smooth floor. It helps in completing the Rangoli design faster.
2) Use Tea filter to fill the color into the Rangoli design.
3) Use mehindi cones to fill the color into the Rangoli design. Mehindi cones help to fill the color more accurately and easily.
4) Flower petals of different colors (golden marigolds, bright red roses) can be used to add that extra dimension to your Rangoli design.
5) If you are making Rangoli design with edible material spray some pesticides near Rangoli so that the ants do not attack and spoil the Rangoli.
6) You can put a glass of appropriate size to put over the frame is essential to prevent damage as well as it will increase the glaze of your Rangoli design.
7) Make white outlines to enhance the Rangoli design.
8) If Rangoli design contains spaces then place diyas to cover the space. In market we easily get thermocol diyas even that can be used to cover the space.
9) Special floating candles are also available in the market. Float them in big containers of water along with flower petals.
10) You can also make a stencil of Rangoli. For this take a cardboard and draw the design you want to make, and cut out the design .So any time you want to make that design just sprinkle color on the cardboard and the design is ready.
11) Donot use glue to make the Rangoli permanent. That will only spoil the Rangoli design.
12) If you are in need of black color to fill into your Rangoli, Instead of black color make use of charcoal. Its gives a nice black texture and look to your Rangoli.
Hope this article help you to design and décor your home with nice and beautiful rangolis.
