1. Rangoli माँडने Puja of Welcoming
Carol Lynne Tombers
Visual Art Department
The Blake School
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

2. Rangoli is a Hindi word; derived from rang (color) and aavalli (row )

3. Traditionally, Rangoli is drawn on the ground, in front of the house, and around a holy plant tulsi (basil) during festivals.

4. The most common way of making a rangoli is to pinch the thumb and the forefinger and let the color to freely run out from the gap.

5. In some places in India rangoli is a daily puja practice

6. Rangoli designs are created for Hindu festivals, marriages, and birth ceremonies.

7. During Diwali people make rangoli designs punctuated with oil lamps
During Diwali people make rangoli designs punctuated with oil lamps. (diyas)

8. During Diwali people make rangoli designs punctuated with oil lamps
During Diwali people make rangoli designs punctuated with oil lamps. (diyas)
One of the most important functions of rangoli is the welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. Lakshmi blesses people with spiritual and material wealth in this festival of the New Year.

9. Mandalas
Maṇḍala (मण्डल) is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form.
The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the shape of a T

10. Mandalas
In Buddhist Mandalas, the reason for using powder or sand as a medium is sometimes thought to be a metaphor for the impermanence of life.

11. Materials and Motifs
Rangoli can be made with marble dust, sandstone powder, sand, grain, rice flour, wheat flour, sawdust, flowers etc.

12. Materials and Motifs
Traditionally the colors used are derived from natural dyes like indigo, vermillion, and turmeric.
Currently all manner of synthetically dyed pigment powders are used to add color.

13. Materials and Motifs
Rangoli are often made with animal, plant, or geometric designs.
The writing of the primordial sound of the universe Aum is common, as well as footprints of the goddess Lakshmi.

14. History
According to the earliest treatise on Indian painting, the Chitra Lakshana, a king and his kingdom were extremely grieved after death of the high priest's son. Everyone offered prayers to the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma for giving life to the boy.
Brahmaji, being moved by the prayers of these people, came and asked the king to paint a likeness of his son on the floor. Brahmaji then put life into the portrait, thus relieved the entire kingdom from its sorrow and pain. This mythological tale is considered the scriptural evidence of the origin of this beautiful Hindu art.

15. History
The Chola dynasty (c CE) is known to have made many floor paintings. These paintings are known by different names in different parts of India;
Aalpana in Bengal
Madana in Rajasthan,
Rangoli in Gujart, Karnataka and Maharashtra
Chowkpurana in Uttar Pradesh, Muggu and Aandhrapradesha
Kolam in Kerala, Tamilnadu, and Pondicherry.

16. A creative inheritance.
In early childhood girls start learning the art of making rangolis. For many, it is a creative inheritance passed down through the generations.

17. Bibliography
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