MEANING OF RANGOLI:
Rangoli is a Hindu folk art, generally created on a floor on special festive occasions. The origin of this art can be traced to the Puranas (works on Hindu mythology). Simply put, Rangoli means a row of colors. The tradition of Rangoli originated in Maharastra and slowly disseminated to other parts of India.
Rangoli, also known as Kolam in South India, Chowkpurana in Northern India, Madana in Rajasthan, Aripana in Bihar, Alpana in Bengal is the ancient Hindu religious floor art. According to a legend recorded in Chitra Lakshana, the earliest treatise on Indian painting, 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.'Rangoli' is a sanskrit word which means a creative expression of art through the use of color. In ancient India, rangolis were used to decorate the entrances of homes, a floor painting which provided a warm and colorful welcome to visitors. 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 rangoli, 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. Rangolis can be vivid, three-dimensional art complete with shadings or they can be the traditional plain, yet as beautiful as, two-dimensional designs. The colored powder is usually applied 'freehand' by letting it run from the gap formed by pinching the thumb and the forefinger.
In ancient times, rangolis were actually decorations made on the entrances and walls of houses to brighten up and add color to occasions being celebrated, like weddings, births and significant religious days. They also signified a warm welcome for visitors. In fact in Maharashtra, India, housewives make them each morning. The designs would be simple and geometrical but could invoke symbolic forms. Oil lamps (diyas) would be placed in the rangoli to give it yet another dimension.
Thus, reflecting regional beliefs and aesthetics based on a common spiritual plane the art of floor painting is one which has survived all influences and retained and transmitted the spirit of Indian life.
Some important tips before starting Rangoli :
o Choose a design that you want to draw. You may find designs from books and magazines or you may try to create your own design. Rangoli designs are symmetrical in nature and geometric in shape. If you want to try out a design of your own, first draw it on a piece of paper and fill in the design with coloured sketch pens to get an idea about how the rangoli will look.
o Wipe the floor (where you want to create the rangoli) with a wet cloth and wait for the area to dry
o With a piece of chalk, first draw the outline of the rangoli design.
o Draw the Rangoli at a spot where you do not expect visitors to walk often else they may end up treading on the Rangoli. For example keep it at the side of The doorstep and not straight outside it. Do not keep it right out side the entrance to the elevator on your floor. Also keep the Rangoli out of reach from dogs and other pets as they may unintentionally spoil it.
o Now it's time to fill in the outline with rangoli powder, the most challenging part of the whole exercise. Pick up some powder with your thumb and index finger and fill in the design by rubbing the two fingers together and sprinkling the powder on the floor. Take care to sprinkle the powder carefully; don't let powders of two different colours merge with each other.
o Start from the centre and move outwards.
o You can use traditional colours like flour of rice and dal. But easily available colours like gulal, kumkum or even poster colours can be used.
o You may create spaces within the rangoli design to place diyas. You could also use flower petals of different colours (golden marigolds, bright red roses) to add that extra dimension to your design.
o With a little bit of imagination, a dash of aesthetic sense and dollops of patience, you can create a piece of art
o Make a stencil and use it to make harmonious patterns.
o Around the Rangoli, you may keep Diyas (Lamps) for lighting and as a symbol of Light on the night where there is no moon.
o Rangolis may be drawn on every day of the festival or the same one may be used.
Mediums for Rangoli:
o Rangoli can be done in any design, and any colour, be it white or any pleasing combination from coloured saw dust or different coloured pulses and spices or coloured rice or petals of different flowers. Decorate the entrance of your house, along the pathway, around the food display, at the place of worship.
o Traditionally, rice flour/ wheat flour, kumkum and haldi are used at the place of worship. They are considered auspicious.
o Raw rice is also soaked for an hour and then ground to a thin fine paste. Using a wad of cloth soaked in the paste and adjusted along the ring finger, designs are drawn. On drying the white line designs look very nice. A dash of colour can be added if desired, with kumkum and haldi.
o For a quick job, moulds are available and so is fine white stone powder. Just fill the mould and roll it on the surface to get a lovely intricate design in white.
o You can also colour rice at home using food colours
o For color rice:
· Add a healthy amount of food coloring to two 1 tsp of rubbing alcohol in a Ziploc bag. · Pour in about 3/4 cup of UNCOOKED rice. · Close the bag and shake well. · Pour onto a piece of wax paper or tinfoil to dry · (Making the colored rice is messy and food color doesn't come out of clothes therefore the shaking part should be done carefully. · Let dry (about 1/2 a day -- less if you spread them out well in a warm airy place.) · (Food coloring Paste can also be used instead of drops.) |
o 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. And add diyas to any design that you make for the soft sparkle.
o Special floating candles are also available in the market. Float them in Urlis (big containers of water) along with flower petals.
Presenting a collection of beautifully designed rangolis. Take ideas from these designs and make a beautiful rangoli.
