Diwali means colorful rangolis! Beautifully designed and colored, almost every house in the country will have its entrance decorated with handmade rangolis of various patterns. And yes, they win our hearts with their beauty and colors.

Rangoli and its traditional roots

Rangoli is an old Indian tradition, followed by our ancestors since several years and holds a special importance during Diwali. In Diwali, colors play an important role. It is also due to this reason that people get their homes painted and buy new colorful clothes and gifts for their dear ones. Also called as Alpona, kolam and Aripoma, rangoli designs and patterns have been made for several years and passed from one generation to the other.

Rangoli made from flower petals

The word Rangoli is coined from two words, “Rang” and “Aavali” which means, Row of Colors. The designs and colors used in making a rangoli varies greatly based on the regions, tradition and the culture of the people. You will see people making rangolis with colors, rice powder and also flower petals.

Traditional rangoli made from colors and decorated with diyas

Rangoli and Diwali

Diwali is celebrated across the country, mainly as a festival to welcome goddess Lakshmi. People clean their homes, remove all garbage and dirt from the house to welcome the Goddess and decorate the entrance of the house with beautiful rangolis. The rangoli patterns are created using chalks, crushed limestone and rice powder.

Rangoli made from grains and pulses

You can simply make a small design or even make a huge one based on your own choice. Usually, people make it small, almost the size of your door-mat kept at the entrance of your home. The pattern for the rangoli also varies based on the skill of the person making the rangoli and the time available.

The design usually starts from a simple line or circle made from pencil or chalk. The design later is filled with different colors adding more beauty to the pattern.

Rangoli in India

Rangoli in india is done in different ways, in different states. The patterns change, the mode of making changes and also the idea of making rangoli also changes. However, the reason of making rangoli remains the same and also a few basics, like making the Swastik and foot prints of Goddess Lakshmi on the four corners of the Rangoli.

In bihar, people draw the footprints of goddess lakshmi on the doorsteps of their homes, while in Andhra Pradesh people draw Rangolis with the 8 petal lotus patterns. This is called as Ashtadal Kamal. Similarly, in Tamilnadu, people draw the 8 pointed star, called the Hridaya Kalam, which means Lotus of the Heart.

Above all, the design of the rangoli doesn’t matter much. All that really matters is the presence of a rangoli in your house during Diwali. The festival of lights is incomplete without a Rangoli. So, enjoy togetherness and tradition with rangoli designs this Diwali.