A Rangoli Competition was organised at Yatan by volunteers and teachers on the eve of Diwali. The best designs were appreciated by prizes.
What is Rangoli?
Rangoli is a traditional art form, originated in India during the pre-vedic times. It is widely popular even today with little variations in the design.
Rangoli design is made mainly during diwali after the house is washed and cleaned. The entrance is decorated with a rangoli every day of Diwali to welcome the Gods and Guests and ward off any evil spirits.
Rangoli competitions are held at village level in schools and community halls. Marriages and similar rituals begin with rangoli designs. Even religious ceremonies like yajna are held with traditional rangoli designs.
History of Rangoli
Rangoli as an art form is practised all over the country and by Indians abroad. It is believed that the first rangoli was drawn by Lopamudra, the wife of the great rishi Agastya. She decorated the yajna which is the sacrificial fire used to perform religious rituals. Lopamudra was a learned and creative woman. She also helped Agastya in writing some of the hymns of the Rig Veda.
Many years later, Sita after she fell in love with Ram is believed to have made the first water based rangoli as compared to the dry one made by Lopamudra. Both of them used rice flour as the base white colour.
Many years later when Ram returned to Ayodhya, the residents lit up ghee lamps and draw rangoli in front of their houses. That could have been the starting of the festival of Diwali as a festival of the masses.
When people realised the power of the rangoli, it started being used on every occasion both for personal as well as community occasions.
Almost all schools except for those in the urban areas organise a rangoli competition on the eve of Diwali. There are some commercial competitions for adults too at temples and community centres.
Rangoli is so popular in India that there is actually no need for any promotion. Rangoli designs are passed on from one generation to another. Designs are basically geometric patterns of endless lines with a central theme like Ganesh or Laxmi on a lotus or lamps.
As a work of art, rangoli drawing is also therapeutic.
