Overview
Rangoli is an art form originating from the Indian subcontinent in which decorative patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using materials such as powdered limestone, red ochre, dry rice flour, coloured sand, quartz powder, flower petals and coloured rocks. The designs are typically drawn outside the threshold of the main entrance, often in the early mornings after the area has been cleaned. Designs are commonly passed from one generation to the next, helping to sustain both the art form and its associated traditions.
While rangoli is part of everyday practice in some Hindu households, the more elaborate creations are usually reserved for festivals and important celebrations, as they can be time-consuming. Rangolis are most often associated with Diwali (or Tihar), and are also made during Onam, Pongal, Ugadi and other Hindu festivals across the subcontinent. The designs vary by region and community, reflecting local traditions, folklore and practices, and rangoli is known by different names depending on the state and culture.
In Hindu tradition, the rangoli is intended to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck, and is associated with the happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household. It is believed that a household without a clean entrance and rangoli is considered an abode of daridra, or misfortune. The purpose of rangoli therefore extends beyond decoration into the ritual and auspicious life of the home.
Traditional materials also serve practical and symbolic functions. Powdered calcite and limestone are believed to discourage insects from entering the household, while cereal powders are thought to attract insects and small creatures away from the home, feeding them in the process. The use of cereal powders is sometimes described as a form of panch-mahabhoota seva, an offering connected to the five elements, as it provides sustenance to insects and microbes. The postures involved in drawing rangoli have also traditionally been regarded as a form of gentle exercise. Rangolis are traditionally made by girls and women, though men and boys also participate in many households and communities.