Rangoli are the colourful drawings that you see outside many homes in the state of Karnataka. They look beautiful sometimes plain, sometimes colourful, some simple and some so complex you can’t feign where it began.
Rangoli and its symbols
Last week in the streets of Udupi, I found this stencilled rangoli designs. Floral designs, welcome patterns,peacocks, geometric forms… rangoli encompasses every pattern found in nature. These stencils, I learnt, are for those who may not draw by hand or simply prefer a quick, do-it-yourself version of this traditional art.
Ready made stencil is a modern way of doing rangoli. They are circular and come with silkscreens with designs. Rangoli powder can be sieved through this to get the pattern. Quick and easy it saves time for a hassle free rangoli. Rangoli kits too are available online these days to add that colour and festivity to your homes.
The Diya or the lamp motif is commonly used during festival of lights or Diwali. It also serves as a place holder for lights. The Kalash or the pot holding water with mango leaves and coconut above is used for all auspicious occasions. It indicates purity and prosperity. Peacock is a symbol of power, also the vehicle of Hindu god Subramanya. It is also said to remove evil eye and safeguard you from dangers. Lotus is also another common pattern that indicates wealth and prosperity.
Rangoli for meditation
Traditionally in southindian homes, rangoli is made from rice powder. But these days during festivals poo Kolam which means rangoli with flowers is also common. Using petals of rose, marigold, jasmine, and even colourful leaves, people create vibrant patterns that celebrate both art and nature. During festivities like Onam they are more common.
The use of rice powder signifies something edible. So the significance of rangoli outside homes gets much more importance. Sparrows, ants, insects eat rice and rice powder. So rangoli done at dawn was one way of nourishing the animals too.
The rangoli activity was an early morning ritual done by women at home. So perhaps it was her way of focus and creativity in the wee hours of morning giving her the clarity to get through the day… much like the zentangle of today. Meditation, you say… it was already woven into our everyday rituals. In India, practices like drawing a rangoli at dawn — repeating patterns, focusing on symmetry, breathing with each movement — were quiet acts of mindfulness long before the word ‘meditation’ became popular.
Significance of Rangoli
Rangoli was not just outside homes or as a way to welcome guests. It was also done in front of temples and gods. This rangoli was done in front of Devi or goddess. Notice how floral and creeper patterns also surround the pedestal of the diety.
In Laxmi Pooja or worship of goddess Lakshmi , motifs dear to Lakmi like lotus, her vehicle the owl and footprints are also done. The footprints are drawn from the entrance of the house till the prayer room depicting her arrival in homes. Footprints are also drawn during Krishna janmastami -the festival celebrating the birth of Krishna. Here baby foot prints start from entrance leading to the prayer room.
In south Canara district , during popular festivals worshipping the snake different mandalas -geometric patterns specific to the ritual are done by men priests. These are quite elaborate and complex and use a variety of colours.
So rangoli has different meaning. They were used to ward off evil, usher in prosperity, served as food for animals, were used in rituals, to create sacred spaces and perhaps also served as powderful tool to usher in mindfulness.
Lines and Dots of Rangoli
Not just rice power or chalk powder, a paste of rice powder was also used for making rangoli. Sometimes rangoli used paint colours too. This colourful rangoli is done in front of a temple and is rather permanent.
The colours used often were red, white,blue,green and even black. It represented the elements of nature. Even the geometric shapes in the rangoli represented this like the square representing earth, triangle -fire etc.
Rangoli generally begins with a dot. The geometric ones do indicating that dot as the starting point, the grounding base and the seed from which the creation starts. The lines are drawn -straight or curvy. When they intersect magic happens. For example 3 indicates protection, four symbolises guardian of directions.
A loop or knot rangoli has a slightly different purpose- that of protection or binding. It can include both for attacks and for one’s protection.
So perhaps rangoli was a powerful yantra tool. In the ancient prehistoric caves of Idakkal, in Wayanad stand few squares and figures. They depict magic. So rangoli was just a way to invite gods and ask for health, wealth and prosperity.
Most of the rituals are either for prosperity or for procreation as is the order of nature. So rangoli with its motifs, symbols and patterns nicely fits into these. What do you think?