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EveryParampara

Rangoli

A pattern drawn on the floor at the doorway with coloured powder, rice flour or flowers.

A pattern drawn for this page, not a picture of Rangoli.

Also: kolam, alpona, muggu

Rangoli is the floor art of India, made at the threshold to welcome guests and the goddess Lakshmi. It is drawn with rice flour, coloured powder, sand or flower petals, in geometric and floral designs. In Tamil Nadu it is called kolam and is renewed every morning with white rice flour, which also feeds ants and birds. In Bengal it is alpona, and in Andhra muggu. At Diwali and Onam the patterns grow large and colourful, and neighbours compare designs. Rangoli is meant to last only a day or so, and its passing is part of its charm.

Region: South Asia

See also

KolamDiyaPuja

Find traditions that mention Rangoli

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.