Rangoli : Painted Prayers of India
Rangoli (ran-goal-i) is the
traditional art of decorating
courtyard and walls of Indian
houses, places of worship and at
times eating places. Powder of
white stone, lime, rice flower and
other cheap paste is used to draw
intricate and ritual designs. Each
state has its own way of painting
Rangoli.
One characteristic of Rangoli is
that it is painted by common folks,
on some occasions at every home
with or without formal training in
Rangoli art. The art is typically
transferred from generation to
generation and from friend to
friend. Popular magazines publish
new designs of Rangoli every
week and on special occasions
there are Rangoli contests.
Women use bare fingers or brush to create various designs from
the sand stone powder or grain-flour. Sometimes colors and petals
are used as also flour paste. Some women are so skilled with
fingers, they can create fingers of deities, chariots, temples, etc. on
the finely layered floor. Petals of various flowers, Oleanders,
cosmos, zenia, chrysanthemums, and green leaves provide them
scope to work out various patterns. In the evenings of festive
occasions, when oil lamps are lit, and the atmosphere is cool and
pleasant, such floral designs create the atmosphere of a well laid
divine garden round the sacred spot where puja (prayer) is
performed or the child whose birthday, naming ceremony or thread
ceremony is being performed, is seated. Newly weds also receive
guests in such a decorated surrounding when the wedding
celebrations are on.
Most of the Rangoli designs are motifs of plants, flowers, leaves like
coconut, lotus, mango, aswatth and animals like cow, bull, elephant,
horse, and sacred birds like eagle. There would be geometrical
designs as well. When drawn with fingers, these will get different
dimensions of their own.
Girls and wives will compete with each other, to draw a new design
every time, though there will be no prize as such. They believe that
gods are fond of cleanliness and things of beauty and this is one
household art of propitiating deities.
Jyotsna Kamat
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