Rangoli: Painting the Earth
In India, art is an important part of daily life. One of the most
common ways in which people in India include art in their lives is
by drawing rangoli, which are also known by other names like aripona, alpona and kolam.
In villages across India, women draw these designs each morning on
their doorsteps, in the courtyards of their homes, or in temples.
Using rice powder or crushed limestone, they start with a grid of
small dots, then fill in the design with a series of lines. Rangoli not only add a touch of art and beauty to the home
or temple, they also protect the family or holy place.
The designs are handed down from mother to daughter. Some of
these designs are very old, dating back hundreds and hundreds of
years. Flower and animal motifs are sometimes included in the
designs, but geometric lines are the heart of rangoli designs. There are also many different styles of drawing, varying
from region to region across the country
Drawing Your Own Rangoli Design
Here is a design your students can try. You might want to have them
practice first on paper, then try drawing the pattern from memory on
the ground or on a blackboard, using chalk. Once they have mastered
this design, you could have them try the two others.
Remind them that the keys in rangoli are to begin with a
grid of dots and lines, and to complete the design in one flowing
movement of the hand. The first step in making a rangoli is
to place the dots correctly. It takes practice to make an
evenly-spaced grid. If the dots are not carefully lined up or
properly spaced, the design will never look the way it's
supposed to.
Rangoli Design 1
First, draw the grid:
- Row one: One dot
- Row two: Three dots, with the centre dot exactly below the dot
on row one
- Row three: Two dots – one below each of the spaces on the
previous row
- Row four: Repeat row two
You are now ready to begin drawing the lines. Starting at the top of
the diagram we've provided, follow the coloured arrows to make the
design. Remember that the entire design should be completed with one
continuous hand movement, the way people do in India.
Rangoli Design 2
![](images/indtchc8.jpg)
Rangoli Design 3
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