1. Diwali
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus at the end of October.
Why do Hindu’s celebrate Diwali, which story are they remembering?
How do Hindu’s celebrate this festival?
Make a list with your group on the sugar paper.

2. Rangoli Patterns
Rangoli is a Hindu folk art, generally created on a floor on special festive occasions. Simply put, Rangoli means a row of colours.
Origin According to a legend a king and his kingdom were steeped in sorrow at the death of the high priest's son. Everybody prayed to Lord Brahma, who moved by the prayers, asked the king to paint a portrait of the boy on the floor so that he could breathe life into it. And with that the art of floor painting came to life. And that is how rice, flour and flowers were transformed into picturesque offerings to God in the form of floor painting. In ancient India, rangolis were used to decorate the entrances of homes, a floor-painting which provided a warm and colorful welcome to visitors. In Indian cultures, all guests and visitors occupy a very special place, and a rangoli is an expression of this warm hospitality. In particular, the Diwali festival is widely celebrated with rangolis, since at this time, people visit each other's homes to exchange greetings and sweets. In a rangoli, powdered colors are sprinkled on cleaned and dusted floors to form decorations. Rangolis can be vivid, three-dimensional art complete with shadings or they can be the traditional plain, yet as beautiful as, two-dimensional designs. The colored powder is usually applied 'freehand' by letting it run from the gap formed by pinching the thumb and the forefinger. Oil lamps (diyas) would be placed in the rangoli to give it yet another dimension.
The Tradition of Rangoli

3. Find some examples of Rangoli Patterns.

4. Motifs generally created are lotus, fish, birds, snakes etc
Motifs generally created are lotus, fish, birds, snakes etc. which reflects the unity of man and beast. Most of the rangoli designs are circular symbolising a sense of endless time. Celestial symbols such as the sun and moon are also common themes for rangoli. Layered with symbolism is the lotus denoting Goddess Lakshmi, the unfolding of life, the heart or the wheel.
Most Rangolis are basically geometric patterns formed with dots and lines to make squares, circles, swastikas, lotus flowers, fish, conch shells, footprints or trees.
The raw materials mainly used to make rangoli are edibles like rice flour, pulse and leaves. All over India, floor paintings are essentially white in color. White is a symbol of peace, purity and tranquility. The material used is rice flour or rice paste, because rice to all Indians is a sign of prosperity. Yet another symbol of prosperity is the colour yellow. Turmeric yellow is also often used to fill in the white outlines. More often however, vermilion is used. Vermilion, is considered auspicious. Also used are pea green and rust brown.

5. MEANING & SIGNIFICANCE REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Diwali Festival Fun
Making Diwali Rangolis Rangoli Patterns Diwali Recipes Diwali Diyas Tradition of Playing Cards Pooja Thali Decorations Making Diwali Cards Diwali Essay Diwali Poems Diwali Songs Diwali Mela Diwali Wallpapers Diwali Decorative Items
DIWALI POOJA
Diwali Puja Process Diwali Aarti Diwali ~ Lakshmi Puja Diwali ~ Ganesh Puja Diwali ~ The New Year Diwali ~ Kali Puja
Celebrate Environmentally Safe Diwali
DIWALI RESOURCES
    Diwali 2008 is on October 28, Tuesday
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DIWALI FESTIVAL IN INDIA
Kali Pooja in Bengal Diwali in North India Diwali in South India Regional Names of Diwali
LEGENDS OF DIWALI
Importance of Dussehra Rama Return to Ayodhya Diwali As Harvest Festival Killing of Narakasura Emergence of Lakshmi
                                                      
Know Diwali-The Festival of lights
                           
FIVE DAYS OF DIWALI
Dhanteras Choti Diwali Lakshmi Puja on Diwali Padwa & Govardhan Puja Bhai Duj
                                                     
             
         
DIWALI IN HISTORY
TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS
MEANING & SIGNIFICANCE
CELEBRATIONS
REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
                                                                                                                     
   
          
- Tradition of Diwali Pooja - The Tradition of Rangoli - Diwali Gift Tradition
- The Tradition of Lights - The Tradition of Fireworks - DIWALI CALENDAR      
           
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click here for enlarge
           
click here for enlarge
                          
         
                                       
- Diwali Gifts - Diwali Sweets - Diwali Messages
- Diwali Cards - Crackers - Dry Fruits
                                   
Copyright © Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI). All Rights Reserved

7. We are then going to re-create them outside using coloured chalks.
Using the information
you have found out,
create your own
Rangoli pattern
on squared paper.
We are then going to re-create them
outside using coloured chalks.