Reisha Shetty Junior Digital Writer

The festival of lights, Diwali is the one time of the year that brings so much joy and brightness into our lives. As families come together to celebrate the occasion, they each bring along the traditions that they have been following for many years.

One such tradition that has been followed in many households during Diwali is making rangolis outside the house. From brightening up the space to bringing prosperity and happiness into the home, rangoli plays a key role during Diwali and, thankfully for you, we’ve scoured the Internet and put together everything you need to know.

The History Of Diwali

Celebrating the triumph of good over evil, Diwali or Deepavali is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs around the world. While each religion has its own story behind celebrating the festival, one of the main stories revolves around Lord Rama, Sita Devi and Lakshman returning to their homeland, Ayodhya after being banished into exile for almost 14 years. Their return after defeating and killing the demon king Ravana, sparked joy and celebration among the people of Ayodhya, who commemorated their return by lighting diyas. The other prominent tale revolves around Lord Krishna, who declared the day of Diwali a day of celebration after he slayed the demon Naraksura and helped the people of his kingdom. To celebrate the victory of light over darkness, people light up their homes with diyas and lanterns even today.

The Significance Of Rangoli In Diwali

Every Diwali, people wake up an hour earlier than usual to add some colour to their doorsteps with some stunning rangolis that play a special part in the festivities. Making bright, vibrant rangolis on your doorstep helps in welcoming positive energy into your home while warding off all the negative energy. While each community has their own style and method of creating rangolis, it is truly a beautiful ritual that one can celebrate with the whole family.

Types of Rangolis

Stencil Rangoli

Stencil rangoli is probably the easiest way to create a beautiful design without much effort. If you are someone who isn’t too creative but would still like to keep up with the traditions, stencil rangoli is cheap and easily available in your closest market. All you have to do is place the stencil on the floor, add some colour to it and then slowly lift the stencil to reveal the perfect rangoli.

3D Acrylic Rangoli

Another easy, mess-free rangoli that you can not only make but also reuse for the next festival, 3D acrylic rangoli is perfect for those who love to keep things clean and clutter-free. These acrylic rangolis come with embellished stones and a set colour that make your rangoli look even more beautiful. You can place it however you like and even create unique formations without stressing about cleaning up.

Flower Rangoli

Fresh and always beautiful, flower rangolis are perfect for those who don’t want to get their hands dirty but still want to create extravagant rangolis on their doorstep. Made out of flowers, petals and leaves, you can create any design you look at and it always looks stunning. The only downside is that after a day, the flowers start withering which starts making the rangoli look dishevelled. So, you need to keep in mind to bring flowers that are fresh and have a longer lifespan to make the rangoli look great for longer.

Free-Hand Rangoli

The one for the pros, free-hand rangolis is the most complicated one to attempt. The beautiful and intricate designs are first created by drawing on the floor with chalk, followed by the colour being applied on the drawn spot. This type of rangoli can be made by people who have gotten the hang of making rangoli without the help of an applicator or stencil.

Welcome Traditional Sanskar Bharti Rangoli

A popular rangoli style which is very often found outside Maharashtrian homes, Sanskar Bharti is a rangoli style which is more traditional and is made only with the help of your fingers. While this is also another style of free-hand rangoli, it is a lot simpler and does not involve intricate designs. But the one key factor about the welcome traditional Sanskar Bharti rangoli is that it’s made with white colour and is often used to create designs outside and inside the house.

Kolam

A traditional rangoli style often done in homes in Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and even Sri Lanka, Kolam is a geometric line rangoli that is drawn around dots and is made out of rice flour. The Kolam is drawn on a brown base and is often made by women of the house early in the morning. These kolam designs often have a special significance to them.

Rangoli Ideas To Try

Level: Beginner

For all those people who are just starting out with rangoli, here are some ideas that you can try for this festival of lights.

Lotus Square

Easy and super pretty, the lotus square is the perfect rangoli you can make this festive season if you’re still trying to get a hang of things.

Starry Night

Want to make a quick rangoli that actually looks like a piece of art? We’ve got you covered! This easy rangoli not only looks great but is perfect for whenever you need to bring an artsy edge to the festivities.

Level: Intermediate

If you are good at making basic yet beautiful rangolis, you are on the intermediate level and need a design that is unique and not too complicated. So, here are a few designs that you can try.

Symmetrical Floral

Love a good and neat floral arrangement? Then this is the perfect rangoli for you that is precise, clean, and beautiful.

Seasons Greetings

Taking the traditional route is always a good idea during Diwali. So this festive season, welcome your guest in the best way—a classic sanskar bharti rangoli.

Level: Expert

For all those who are blessed with the incredible talent of making rangolis, here are some designs you can try your hand at this Diwali.

Triangular Greens

Want to switch things up a bit? Why not ditch the classic circular rangoli for a fun triangle one? Play around with some shapes and create your own unique design that shows your true artistic talent.

Vibrant Floral

Add some vibrancy this festive season with this very clean yet complicated (in a good way) rangoli that will make everyone stop and stare.

Rangoli Tips To Swear By

For anyone who is trying their hand at making rangoli this Diwali, here are some tips and tricks you need to swear by to make sure your rangoli is absolutely perfect.

• It is always a good idea to draw your rangoli design before filling it with the coloured powder. This way you’ll get a precise design that is clean and pretty.
• You can always use a stencil to create a basic design and then fill it in with your preferred colours or even flowers.
• Always make sure to start drawing your rangoli from the inside and going towards the outside to avoid ruining it.
• Create a border around your rangoli with white powder, diyas or flowers to make sure that no one steps on it.
• If you have trouble filling in spaces with the powdered colours, use the help of a rangoli pen that will make sure that your colour stays well within the lines and does not get mixed with the other sections.

F.A.Q

Q1. Can we do creative designs with the help of a box stencil?

Ans: Box stencils can be quite restrictive due to their tiny patterns and size. You can add a pinch of colour to your design but you won’t be able to add a lot of creative elements to it.

Q2. How can we lighten the tone of the powder colour we get in the market?

Ans: This is a very simple trick. All you need to do is add some white powder to the colour and mix it well. This will create a lighter shade and give you a good gradient rangoli. Make sure to not mix too much of the white powder as it is slightly heavier and grainier than the regular coloured powder and it might change its texture.

Q3. Can these colours stain our tiles?

Ans: Some colours that have deeper pigments can stain your white flooring. So, to avoid this, make sure to clean it with soap and water every day. You can also make the rangoli on a slightly elevated platform which is dark in colour so that you don’t have to stress about the colour transfer.