Rangoli
Rangoli is an art form native to the Indian subcontinent. The word “Rangoli” is derived from “Rangavalli”, a Sanskrit word for “rows of colours”. It is made on a plain surface, be it floor or a tabletop with colours of one’s choice on some auspicious occasions. It was an everyday practice in Indian households earlier but in this cutting edge era, it has restrained this beauty to few celebrations. The main festivals which require rangoli making are – Diwali, Onam, Pongal, and Sankranthi. In Tamil Nadu, rangoli is called “kolam” and is traditionally prepared in white rice flour.
The significance of Rangoli is much more than just a decorative piece. Some say that it is a sign of good luck and ward off evil spirits, that’s why it is usually made at the entrance of the house. Another belief is that rangoli is a symbol of peace. Rangoli is drawn in various ways: geometric patterns, floral designs, and religious symbols to welcome the good faith of Gods and Goddesses. These different designs are unique to various regions of India as they reflect their folklore and culture. For example, Kolam starts with a grid of dots but is later connected by lines or curves which results in a fine computational drawing at the end. Similarly, different places have different names for rangoli: Rangoli is also known as “Mandana” in Rajasthan, “chowk pujan” in Uttar Pradesh, “sathiya” in Gujarat, and many more.
Diwali is one festival that is celebrated across India and rangoli is essential on this day. Jugnu Verma, an artist and art educator in Columbia S.C recently said in a phone interview “The Christmas tree is to Christmas as the rangoli is to Diwali”. Thus, this artform is deep-rooted in our traditions. Earlier, only females in the family used to participate in this and the art was passed on from mothers to their daughters. But now the time has changed, we are living in a relatively open-minded society and any gender can enjoy drawing the beautiful rangoli.