Rangoli is a very familiar word among the people of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived the word Sanskrit word “Rangavalli.” Well, Rangoli is an art that precedes sculpture & painting. It is an auspicious as well as a preliminary requisite of any Hindu religious ritual. And, it is perhaps a custom to draw Rangoli at the doorstep on a daily basis, during festivals, and auspicious functions like wedding and other celebrations.

The major objectives of drawing rangoli are

Acquisition of auspiciousness

Revelation of beauty

The forms that are drawn in rangoli are quite symbolic. It is believed that a curved line creates a better beauty effect compared to a straight one. Generally, it is women that draw rangoli. They don’t need any devices like ruler, thread, brush, etc. to draw this art. They move their fingers freely to form different shapes with ease. In fact, today, this art is being studied professionally as well, thereby creating Rangoli artists. They are hired by corporates and individuals during festivals and family celebrations to beautify their space with lovely Rangoli arts.

What is Rangoli generally made of?

Rangoli seems to be a coarse powder that is obtained by pounding shirgola, a lustrous and cleavable mineral. Rangoli art can be drawn also by using rice powder or a batter made of rice flour. Today, there are different variations of Rangoli powder available.

How is Rangoli done?

Using the thumb and index finger, a pinch of this powder is taken. Since it is a coarse powder, it flows freely when it is slowly released from the fingers.

The following steps explain the process of making Rangoli on the floor:

First, the surface on which the art is to be drawn should be prepared by thoroughly cleaning it.

A floral design or auspicious signs or symbols are chosen for drawing.

After choosing the design, the required number of dots is kept on the floor utilizing the Rangoli powder.

The dots are then joined using appropriate design lines, shapes, curves, and so on.

Sometimes, colours are filled in the art according to design recommendations to make it more beautiful.

What is the reason behind drawing Rangoli?

According to ancient knowledge, when the floor is swept and smeared with cow dung (the normal practice in South India), subtle lines are formed on it. These lines have certain frequencies. Since these lines seem to be irregular, the vibrations they create are irregular as well. And, these vibrations are known to be harmful to the eyes, body and mind. In order to overcome such unfavorable frequencies, cones and auspicious signs and symbols are systematically drawn with Rangoli on swept or smeared floors. As a result, the ill-effects of both sweeping and smearing can be overcome and one can obtain favorable results.

Today, no matter in which part of the world you are, you can easily hire the services of a Rangoli artist that can draw beautiful Rangoli for your festivals and events.