Rangoli 607611 224134492 2008-07-07T13:48:09Z Bdog9121 7388333 Reverted 6 edits by [[Special:Contributions/Bdog9121|Bdog9121]], [[Special:Contributions/82.110.149.118|82.110.149.118]], [[Special:Contributions/Caiaffa|Caiaffa]] and [[Special:Contributions/86.165.184.163|86.165.184.163]] to last version by RyRy (u [[Image:Rangoli.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rangoli in Singapore]] [[Image:1020 0187.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rangoli outside a home in Mumbai, India]] '''Rangoli''' is one of the most popular art forms in [[India]]. It is a form of [[sandpainting]] decoration that uses finely ground white powder and colours, and is used commonly outside homes in India. Rangoli can be wall art as well as floor art. The term ''rangoli'' is derived from words ''rang'' (colour) and ''aavalli'' ('coloured creepers' or 'row of colours'). ==Origin== The origin of rangoli painting is traced to a legend recorded in the Chitralakshana, the earliest Indian treatise on painting. When the son of a Kings high priest died, [[Brahma]], Lord of the universe, asked the king to paint the likeness of the boy so that Brahma could breathe life into him again. This is how, it is believed, the first painting was made. Also, the son of the king painted a portrait of a girl whom the son liked very much, although the king would not let his son see her. Rangoli also became a form of self-portraiture for women. Another popular story is that [[God]], in one of his creative episodes, extracted the juice from one of the [[mango]] trees as [[paint]], and drew the figure of a [[woman]] so beautiful that it put the [[apsaras|heavenly maidens]] to shame. Chola rulers made extensive use of floor paintings. They are known by different names in different parts of the country; ''[[Alpana]]'' in [[Bengal]], ''Aripana'' in [[Bihar]], ''Madana'' in [[Rajasthan]], ''Rangoli'' in [[Gujarat]], [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]], ''Chowkpurana'' in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and ''[[Kolam]]'' in [[Kerala]] and [[Tamilnadu]], ''Muggu'' in [[Andhrapradesh]]. Some of these, especially many of the North Indian ones like [[Aalpana]] more often refer to floor painting with traditional wet color, rather than the powder rangoli more conventional in south India. [[Image:PongalRangoli.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Rangoli|Rangoli in front of house during Pongal]]]] Like Hindu and Buddhist [[Mandalas]], the reason for using powder or sand as a medium for creating Rangoli (and its resulting fragility) is sometimes thought to be a metaphor for the impermanence of life and [[Maya (illusion)|maya]]. ==Description== The [[motif (art)|motifs]] in traditional Rangoli are usually taken from Nature - [[peacock]]s, [[swan]]s, [[mango]], [[flower]]s, [[creeper]]s, etc. The colours traditionally were derived from natural [[dye]]s - from barks of trees, leaves, [[indigo]], etc. However, today, [[synthetic dye]]s are used in a range of bright colours. The materials used for Rangoli take on either a flat appearance, when a uniform monolayer of powders are sprinkled or a [[3D art|3-D]] effect when different sized grains like cereals, pulses etc are used either in their natural colouring or tinted with natural dyes are used. Some [[artist]]s use the 3-D effect for borders alone while others create beautiful designs using [[grain]]s and [[bead]]s entirely. Coloured powder can be directly used for fancy decorations, but for detailed work, generally the material is a coarse grained powder base into which colors are mixed. The base is chosen to be coarse so that it can be gripped well and sprinkled with good control. The base can be sand, marble dust, saw dust, brick dust or other materials. The colors generally are very fine pigment podwers like [[gulal]]/[[aabir]] available for [[Holi]] or colors (mentioned above) specially sold for rangoli in South India. Various day to day colored powders like [[indigo]] used for cloth staining, spices like [[turmeric]], [[chile powder|chili]], [[rawa]], rice flour, flour of wheat etc are also variously used. Powder colors can be simply mixed into the base. If the base is light like saw dust, it can be used to make floating rangoli on the surface of [[stagnant water]]. Sometimes saw-dust or sand is soaked into waterbased color and dried to give various tints. However that probably cannot be used on water. If a rangoli is to be made on water, the color should preferably be insoluble in water. [http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=50923] The designs are symbolic and common to the entire country, and can include [[geometrical]] patterns, with lines, dots, squares, circles, triangles; the [[swastika]], [[Indian lotus|lotus]], [[trident]], fish, [[conch]] shell, footprints (supposed to be of goddess [[Lakshmi]]), [[creeper]]s, leaves, trees, flowers, animals and [[anthropomorphic]] figures. These motifs often are modified to fit in with the local images and rhythms. One important point is that the entire pattern must be an unbroken line, with no gaps to be left anywhere for evil spirits to enter. Originally Rangoli was done in small patterns — 2 feet square — but now entire floor areas of rooms and hotel [[foyer]]s are covered in intricate detailed designs. Traditionally, such floor decorations were done only on auspicious occasions or festivals. But today, any occasion is good enough — weddings, birthday parties, opening ceremonies, etc. In the deep South and South West of India and [[Kerala]], flowers are used to create floor art. Rangoli can be improvised into diverse visual art forms. For instance, it can be used to make elaborate images that look as if they were painted (some examples of such Rangolis: [http://www.nhindia.net/forum/YaBB.cgi?board=udaan;action=display;num=1088917479],[http://www.geocities.com/vichare_world/rangoli1.html],[http://www.geocities.com/vichare_world/rangoli2.html],[http://www.swastikrangoli.com/rangoli.html],[http://picasaweb.google.com/pritzd/RangolisIVeMade)]. Sprinkling powder by hand is a very laborious and difficult process, however, and it's difficult to render fine details - meaning the image must be quite large. In [[Indian culture]]s, all guests and visitors occupy a very special place, and a rangoli is an expression of this warm hospitality. In particular, the [[Divali]] festival is widely celebrated with rangoli, since at this time, people visit each other's homes to exchange greetings and sweets. Rangoli also has a religious significance, enhancing the beauty of the surroundings and spreading joy and happiness all around. ==See also== *[[Rangavalli]] *[[Kolam]], the [[Tamil people|Tamil]] version of [[Rangoli]]. *[[Swastik Rangoli Kalakar Group]]. ==External links== * [http://www.rangoli.co.in Rangoli and Kolam Designs of India] * [http://mehandi27.com/realrangoli/page1.html See Rangoli Pictures] * [http://picasaweb.google.com/pritzd/RangolisIVeMade) Some Rangolis incorporating non-traditional designs] * [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/A_0211.htm Bengali Alpana] * [http://bellurramki18.wordpress.com/category/rangoli/ Exclusive & Refreshing Rangoli Designs] * [http://www.swastikrangoli.com/ Vadodara Based Swastik Rangoli Kalakar Group] * [http://www.varnamela.com See Rangoli World Record 2003] * [http://www.ikolam.com/rangoli Interactive Kolam and Rangoli (animated)] * [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/rangoli/ Rangoli - Painted Prayers of India] * [http://www.marathizone.com/marathi/categories.php?cat_id=67 Latest Rangoli Designs With Points] * [http://blog.idera.in/index.php Latest Rangoli Designs Diwali 2007] * [http://www.rangolifashionhouse.com/ Rangoli clothing from the traditional Indian Tangail cotton Sari] [[Category:Genres of Indian art]] [[bn:রঙ্গোলী]] [[fr:Rangoli]] [[hi:रंगोली]] [[te:ముగ్గు]] [[zh:蓝果丽]]