NATURAL COLOURS FROM YOUR KITCHEN, ORGANIC ONES FROM LIFESTYLE STORES, STENCILS FROM THE ROADSIDE AND FLOWERS FROM THE PHOOLWALA CAN CREATE A LOVELY PERSONALISED RANGOLI
Rangolis are one of the oldest art forms of India. Names and styles vary in each state, but the rangoli retains its spirit and essence for welcoming in good luck. This Diwali, welcome in Goddess Laxmi and let her marvel in awe of your rangoli. You don't have to be an artist to do so. It's all readymade.
There are stencils, instruction lists and designs available that any beginner can use. Creativity is important but not mandatory.
As 62-year-old Ashaben, a local resident, puts it, "It's okay if I'm not that creative. What you need is enthusiasm! My grandson and I place dollops of white rangoli powder and then use our fingers to make circles within. We add haldi (turmeric) and kumkum and our rangoli is ready in less than 10 minutes."
We bring you a few fresh looks and ideas this season.
GO FRESH, GO FRAGRANT
Try rose petals, marigold petals, small purple flowers, finely cut green grass or leaves, even methi leaves for your rangoli.
Use strings of jasmine (gajras) or strings of marigolds (torans) that are available at every street corner. They are easy to place and look lovely.
How about using fresh vegetable pastes from your own kitchen?
Strategically place a diya near your personalised floral pattern to make it stand out.
RANGOLI COMPETITIONS: GO VISIT ONE
From amateurs to professionals, several artists participate with great fervour in these competitions. Rangoli competitions are hosted at various local clubs, gymkhanas, residential complexes and even schools around Mumbai. The rangolis vary from a few square centimetres to ones that cover large halls. Entry is usually free and enthusiasm is priceless.
GO TRADITIONAL
If you absolutely have to, opt for a conventional design. Some of the common rangoli themes are the symbols of dancing figures, birds, flowers, Ashoka tree leaves, swastik, chakra and stars. There are also geometrical figures such as circles, curves, squares, ovals and rectangles. Diyas and the footsteps of the Goddess Laxmi are eternal favourites.
THE ORIGIN
The tradition derives from the Chitralakshana (the earliest Indian treatise on painting). Legend goes that when the son of a king's highpriest died, the entire kingdom was distressed. They, along with their king, prayed to Lord Brahma for help. Brahma asked the king to paint a picture of the boy on a wall so that he could breathe life into him again. This is believed to have been the first rangoli. Another legend has it that God, in one of his creative moods, extracted the juice of a mango and painted the figure of beautiful woman. Either way, rangoli is derived from the Sanskrit word rang (colour) and oli/aavali (rows). Therefore, it stands for rows of colour weaved into various unique patterns.
BHASHA ANEK, RANG EK
The rangoli (in Karnataka and Maharashtra) is known by various other names across India. Andhra — muggu or muggulu. Kerala — puvidal Tamil Nadu — kolam Gujarat — sathiya Rajasthan — mandana Madhya Pradesh — chaukpurna Bengal — alpana Bihar — aripana Uttar Pradesh — chowkpurana
Courtesy:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/11/02&PageLabel=59&EntityId=Ar05800&ViewMode=HTML
Comments
Post a Comment