This is an introductory post about rangoli, a traditional home decor art of India and its types based on the making, raw materials and designs. The article also gives an introduction to ethnicoapp.com, a handy source for rangoli designs and artists in India.
What is Rangoli ?
Rangoli is an ancient Indian art of creating designs. In its traditional form, rangoli is a pattern drawn on the floor using white rangoli powder. Further, it may be colored using colored rangoli powders or using various flowers.
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| A free hand rangoli design – courtesy: Ethnicoapp.com |
Rangoli is practiced across India under different names. Rangavalli is the Sanskrit name for rangoli. Ranga refers to color and valli refers to earth in Sanskrit. Rangoli is known as Rangavalli and rangoli in Karnataka, kolam in Tamil Nadu, kalam in Kerala, muggu in Andhra Pradesh, alpana in West Bengal, aripana in Bihar, chowk pujan in Uttar Pradesh, chowkpurana in Chhattisgarh, mandana in Rajasthan.
Rangoli Tradition
Ancient Indians were great art lovers. Arts have been indispensable part of our culture. Rangolis drawn at the house entrances have been considered auspicious. This practice is still seen in some parts of the country. Rangolis are drawn as mandalas while performing poojas and havanas. It is said that Gods make their presence through these mandalas. How true, our ancestors knew the arts are so divine!
Rangoli Types
There are many types of rangoli. Rangoli can be created using various raw materials. Beautiful rangoli designs are made using different colored rangoli powders, flowers, grains, kundans and decorative stones. No time for rangoli making? No need to worry, ready to use rangolis are available in the market!
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| Some rangoli designs – courtesy: Ethnicoapp.com |
A rangoli May be dot based, string patterned, free hand or geometrical. Usually, a rangoli is theme based. Common rangoli motifs are what we see in our day to day life. Floral, animal and bird patterns are some among them. Ethnic concepts of the Gods and Goddesses are also found in rangoli designs. Some gifted artists make portraiture rangolis too.
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Some more rangoli designs – courtesy: Ethnicoapp.com |
Rangoli is usually drawn on the floor. But, they are also set on water-filled wide decorative vessels. Most common rangolis in water are made using attractive fragrant flowers. Floral rangoli designs are trendy these days. Aroma therapists say that they have therapeutic effect on us. Ready to use Kundans rangolis are also set as rangoli designs in water. Expert rangoli artists create fantastic water rangoli using colored rangoli powders. It is an amazing experience to watch making rangoli on water!
Rangoli online – Ethnicoapp website and mobile app
Love creating rangolis? Interested to make new rangoli designs? Then, thousands of rangoli designs are available over the internet. There are many rangoli design sources. Among them, a trendy and useful online destination is, ethnicoapp.com.
Ethnicoapp is a networking site dedicated for traditional arts. Inspiring rangoli designs are uploaded by talented artists. The website is easy to use and search the designs. The designs are linked (optional) to the tutorial posts on the parental website. Ethnicoapp is also loved for its user friendly mobile app. The app is available for download in the Google play store. Ethnicoapp, scoring 4.0 rating from its users, won’t disadisappoint the rangoli lovers and rangoli artists.
Note:
- This is a paid post for ethnicoapp.com
- The content is original and true to the best of my knowledge.
Thanks for the nice introduction. Enjoyed reading this.
Lovely post, Sindhu. My grandma used to create rangoli designs; mom made rangoli at our entrance every day. And I and my brother used to draw rangolis depicting Disney toons.
Hii Sindhuji
wonderful pics and very interesting write up, my mom ans sis makes rangolis during poojas and during diwali mom would make beautiful rangolis every day some day it would be laxmiji or some day geometrical design…mom would make me sit for hours to mix white lime powder into different colours to make her desired shades …was fun then, missing those days 🙂
Anyways thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead 🙂
Wow….. Rangoli on water – I have yet to see that.
I stumbled upon the app recently… It is really cool one… From Rangoli to mehandhi designs… dress designs to almost everything… Thanks for sharing!
I love Rangoli.
You are right that Rangoli is practiced across India under different names, Sindhu. In Odisha it's called Jhoti or Chita. It's a must during festivals especially during Manabasa Gurubar- i.e. Puja for Goddess Lakshmi on Thursdays.
I didn't know the Sanskrit origin of the word. Thanks for sharing!
Proud to belong to our India that has such wonders 🙂
Lovely blog . You look beautiful
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