Rangoli

Origin
•Legend
•a king and his kingdom were steeped in sorrow
at the death of the high priest's son. Everybody
prayed to Lord Brahma, who moved by the
prayers, asked the king to paint a portrait of the
boy on the floor so that he could breathe life into
it. And with that the art of floor painting came to
life. And that is how rice, flour and flowers were
transformed into picturesque offerings to God in
the form of floor painting.
• used to decorate the entrances of homes,
a floor-painting which provided a warm
and colorful welcome to visitors.(ancient
India)
• In Indian cultures, all guests and visitors
occupy a very special place, and a rangoli
is an expression of this warm hospitality.
• In particular, the Diwali festival is widely
celebrated with rangolis, since at this time,
people visit each other's homes to
exchange greetings and sweets.
• In a rangoli, powdered colors are
sprinkled on cleaned and dusted floors
to form decorations.
• Is a Hindu folk art
• Most pleasing and beautiful art form
• Generally created on the floor on special
festive occasions
• Rang- color
• Aavali - row of colours
• powdered colors are sprinkled on cleaned
and dusted floors to form decorations
•
• Motifs generally created are lotus, fish,
birds, snakes etc. which reflects the unity
of man and beast. Most of the rangoli
designs are circular symbolising a sense of
endless time. Celestial symbols such as the
sun and moon are also common themes for
rangoli.

• Based on nature
• Mangoes, creepers, swan, peacocks
• Used natural dyes extracted from barks of trees,
leaves, indigo plant
• Most Rangolis are basically geometric
patterns formed with dots and lines to
make squares, circles, swastikas, lotus
flowers, fish, conch shells, footprints
or trees.
• The raw materials mainly used to make rangoli
are edibles like rice flour, pulse and leaves.
All over India, floor paintings are essentially
white in color. White is a symbol of peace,
purity and tranquility. The material used is rice
flour or rice paste, because rice to all Indians
is a sign of prosperity. Yet another symbol of
prosperity is the colour yellow. Turmeric yellow
is also often used to fill in the white outlines.
More often however, vermilion is used.
Vermilion, is considered auspicious. Also used
are pea green and rust brown.
• Oil lamps (diyas) would be placed in
the rangoli to give it yet another
dimension.
 Rangoli Patterns
Hindu and Sikh families often
decorate their homes with Rangoli
patterns during festivals such as
Diwali
 Goddess Laksmi
During Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi is believed to
visit homes that are well lit, so families decorate
their homes. People wear their best clothes or
buy new ones, children are given presents and
new year greetings are exchanged through visits
or Diwali cards. Also Rangoli designs are created
on doorsteps to welcome everybody.
 Lakshmi is usually pictured as a beautiful
woman with four arms, standing on a lotus
flower. There is usually one, or sometimes two
elephants behind her.
This one is made from
rice and flower petals!
 This one is made from chalk.
Traditionally Rangoli patterns are
made from chalk and rice
More Rangoli patterns!