United Colours of Diwali

Diwali! The name itself invigorates joy, happiness and excitement for everyone. The festival of lights is inarguably India’s biggest religious celebration. So everyone is charged up to light their houses with candles, earthen lamps and fairy lights on this day… night actually. And the women find a central place to make their rangoli everyone hoping to make the best rangoli! 😀

Rangoli

Our Indian festivals make for a perfect time of celebrations! Diwali being just round the corner, I would today bring various Rangoli design forms across India that people use to decorate their courtyards. This Diwali, let’s get to the doorsteps of different Indian states and take a look what’s drawing! 😀

Cut li’l children making rangoli

Alpana in Bengal

We start from Kolkata because it is said that drawing rangoli on floor was started here. Rangoli in Bengal is called Alpana. It is made with the liquid paste of rice powder mixed in water. Mostly made in circular designs in white colour, it welcomes peace, wealth, health and everlasting happiness.

Incredible Design of Alpana| Design by: Partha S Mukherjee

Aripana in Bihar

Aripana is another form of Rangoli practiced in Bihar. It comprises of line drawings or motifs. The most common design is that of a lotus in full bloom drawn in vertically connected patterns. Any ceremony is considered incomplete without this traditional art form adorning the ground.

Mandana in Rajasthan

A very different and unique form of rangoli is Mandana in Rajasthan. First the ground is prepared with cow dung mixed with rati, a local clay and red ochre. Then the intricate designs are drawn by lime or chalk powder. The perfect symmetry and accuracy of the designs made by village women is amazing. It is drawn to welcome gods into the house and as a mark of celebrations on festive occasions.

Kolam in South India

Kolam is a beautiful form of rangoli in South India. Traditionally, it is made of rice powder but nowadays it is also made with chalk or chalk powder or white rock powder too. Kolam is a design of curved loops drawn around a grid pattern of dots. Hindu ladies draw it infront of their homes early in the morning.

Kolam in South India

Rangolis are made almost all over India in one or the other style. Different designs are made using rice powder, coloured rice, flower petals, coloured sand or even pebbles! Different forms, different colours, but one spirit of joy, happiness and hope.

Saaddi Dilli ke rang toh aapko pata hi hain! No particular style, colour or tool, but still everyone tries their best to form a beautiful rangoli!

Beautiful Rangoli

Not just in India, pople have started this tradition overseas too! Singapore being a quite India friendly country decorates the public areas in huge rangolis. Have a look:

Made by: Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Mohan near Esplanade: Theatres on the Bay, Singapore

Irrespective of what design you make or how well or unwell you can draw (unwell in case of people like me who don’t know D of Design), Diwali is incomplete without the traditional rangoli to welcome guests, be it our friends or our prime caretaker. For me, rangoli making is a great time for togetherness.

So which style are you going to choose for making a rangoli this Diwali? Hey! It will be great if you guys post the pictures of your rangoli here too!

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Manuj has been associated with Dpauls for a very long time. He is a frequent traveller who loves to share his travel experiences and travel tips in order to make your trips memorable.

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