The Hindu festival of lights Diwali is on its way this Thursday, October 19, and not only will it bring pretty displays of twinkling lights, but also Diwali Rangoli designs.
Rangoli is a popular folk art that sees people make colourful designs on the floor in their house, to serve as a welcoming gesture to the gods and bring good luck.
The design is created using coloured rangoli powders, ground rice powder, flowers and diyas.
They are made during the Diwali festival in north India, and during the Onam and Pongal festivals in southern India.
The design chosen by the artist will have different religious implications, the designs are often passed from one generation to the next, which has kept this cultural art form alive and the tradition flourishing.
Traditionally the designs are created by women with the practice of making rangoli showcased during religious Hindu celebrations.
The design can be a simple geometric shape, a deity impression, a flower or petal shape or they can be more elaborate and completed by several people.
The base of the rangoli is dry or wet powdered rice or dry flour to which vermillion and turmeric are added along with other natural colours.
In modern times people have added chemical colours to their designs, you can also use sand, red brick powder, flowers, or petals.
Rangoli designs are also known by other names such as Kolam, Ossa and Alpona.
If you are hoping to make your own Rangoli to bring luck and prosperity to your home as well as serving as a warm welcome to the gods then look at these interesting examples.
Here are some Rangoli design inspirations
MORE : When is Diwali 2017 and what is the Diwali story, Ramayana?
MORE : New Delhi bans fireworks for Diwali to combat chronic pollution
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