Decorate door steps of your house with rangoli designs this Diwali: Some common patterns

29 October, 2012

On the day of Diwali, the traditional art of floor painting with coloured powders is done at the entrance of the houses or at the door steps. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visits homes that are decorated and welcoming. Therefore, suitable rangoli designs and motifs are created on doorsteps that exude welcoming and auspicious patterns in colours.

THUS, RANGOLI design on Diwali is symbolic to welcome Goddess Laxami. Motifs generally created are lotus, fish, birds, sun, moon, stars, conch shell, trident, swastika, interfaced triangles, foot-prints, lamps as common themes for rangoli on Diwali.

But most common is the layering or circling of Diwali rangoli motif is with lotus denoting Goddess Laxmi, the unfolding of life of prosperity.

Encircling or the chosen motif is done an 8-petal or 24-petal lotus flower border with petals curved triangles shape.

At many places, raw materials mainly used to make rangoli is rice flour to have the design in white color as a symbol of purity, prosperity and tranquility. The material used is rice flour or rice paste, because rice to all Indians is a sign of prosperity.

At some places, yellow colour is taken as the symbol of prosperity and turmeric yellow or ocher is used to fill in the white outlines. More often however, vermilion is used, which is considered auspicious. In the inset picture six common rangoli designs with eight lotus petals have been shown.