Rangoli Designs and Patterns

'Rangoli' is a Sanskrit word and it means a creative expression of art through the use of color. The word Rangoli is a combination of two words "rang" (color) + "aavalli" (row), which means row of colors.

Basically, Rangoli is the art of drawing images and motifs on the floor and walls of homes using different color powders.

Mostly people draw Rangoli on special occasions but Diwali is one such festival, when most of the Indian household draw a Rangoli to welcome Goddess Laxmi(Goddess of wealth)

Here are some beautiful collections of Rangoli Designs and Rangoli Patterns.

Rangoli making is an art and it is very easy. Based on one's skill, Rangoli designs can be simple or intricate. Here are the 4 ways of making Rangoli designs.

1. By drawing the dots/grids and then joining them together to form shapes.

2. Free Hand Rangoli - if you are an artist and good with design you can easily draw your art form using rangoli powder and fill it as desired.

3. Rangoli using Stencils - once can use Rangoli stencils to draw Rangoli.

4. Rangoli with Rangoli Stickers - if you do not want to draw Rangoli then stickers are the best way to go. These days most of the young women, who have to manage office,home, celebrate festivals with all customs :) prefer to buy these readymade sticker and stick where required.

Materials that can be used for making Rangoli -

> Rangoli Colors
> Marbel Dust
> Coloured Rice - one can use rice grains as it is or make it powdered. Mix food colors available in your kitchen.
> Chalk powder
> Pulses
> Flower Petals
> Leaves
> Colored Stones

If you want to try out making rangoli, buy these Rangoli Items and watch this Rangoli making video. They say pictures speaks better than words and yes ofcourse video will speak better than images. So check out the Rangoli making videos. Also if you want to try making Rangoli on water ( yes you read it right -Rangoli on water), then check the Rangoli on water video.

Most of you, who are reading this page might be wondering how to get Rangoli powder. Rangoli can be made using various alternatives. Here is a good collection of those materials.

>> Flower Petals and Flower PetalsLeaves
You can use flower petals of all size and shapes and small leaves to create beautiful flower Rangoli. They are eco friendly as well :)

>> Pulses
Pulses are available in everyone's kitchen so go for it and create some lovely Rangoli.

>>Chalk powder mixed with poster color/acrylic colors

You can use chalk powder and acrylic colors and make lovely Rangoli art. However based upon the type of color used, your designs may be permanent or relatively permanent. So make sure that you select the place accordingly.

>> Colored Stones
You can make abstract Rangoli art using colored stones.

>>Colored Sand
Involve your kids in making some kid Rangoli designs using colored sand

>> Marble dust - It gives a very good effect.

>> Saw dust
You can make Rangoli with sawdust and sawdust floats on water too.

>> Colored rice or rice powder
You can use whole rice grains and if you want, you can use it in powder them. Use food colors of your choice to make a beautiful Rangoli.

>> Colored Semolina Flour /Cream of Wheat
You can use semolina, semolina powder to make Rangoli.

I have been always a lover of art, color, designs and things which are creative. Over the years, my fascination for rangoli and rangoli designs has become stronger and now I also make sure that I draw rangoli when we celebrate Diwali. Even my son loves helping me out in my designs.

Rangoli making is a creative outlet. I can take various adult coloring pages design and make Rangoli designs out of them. And the best thing is that it is not permanent. You can keep on experimenting and at the same time, you can decorate your house with these lovely designs.

Some adult coloring designs like the ones given below,can be used as Rangoli pattern.

Rangoli making is fun and if your kids love coloring and coloring pages then it is good to introduce them to make Rangoli. Traditionally Rangoli is made using the fingers by holding the Rangoli powder with the index finger and the thumb, but for making it easier you can use basic cones and as per the border width required, you make the hole of the cone and put the Rangoli powder inside.

This is what my son had drawn for one of the Diwali celebration and he was quiet happy. Also to make the background as per your desired color, use the background color and cover the area evenly and then on top of that you draw your design and it comes out lovely.



Here I was helping him out and making him comfortable. The next one he did independently :)

Rangoli making is made easy with the help of stencils. There are various designs available in the market. The best way to design using stencil is to sprinkle the colors evenly over the stencil and you can use the best way to sprinkle color evenly.We usually use sieve or sifter and it comes out beautifully.

You can draw Rangoli with the stencil over the floor directly or you can use a background color and then do the stencil design on top of that.

Here are some images of Rangoli Stencils from my collection.















These are very cute Rangoli stencil boxes/containers. You just fill the plastic container with the Rangoli color powder and use the stencil for the beautiful patterns. I got these set of 4 containers from an exhibition just a few days back.

Some beautiful Rangoli designs with more details and intricate lines, thus making the Rangoli look more grand and special.




*source :wikimedia commons

Learn Rangoli making in an easy step by step instruction format through this instructable page.

You will find rangoli colors in mostly all the colors, however white is the most important color of all. White is used to draw the framework and the border of the design and rest of the colors are used to decorate and fill up the various shapes and patterns.

Swastik is a very popular rangoli form and most of the household where it is customary to draw rangoli everyday, just drawing a simple swastik is enough.

You can always extend the Rangoli art and have various forms of craft activities along with your kids. You can make Glitter Rangoli using Rangoli stencils and glitter in various colors. The kids will surely enjoy and they can learn a new art form. Here are some glitter rangoli patterns using the Rangoli stencils.




Diwali Diya in Glitter

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This colorful Diwali Rangoli was made by my sister for one of the Diwali celebrations. She is an artist. I love the use of lovely Rangoli colors. It was made in the evening before the Diwali puja. We decorated it with Diwali diyas and candles.





This photo was taken the next day of Diwali. The flower (marigold) is almost dry.



Kids love to play with the flowers and colors ( they are one of the main reason for Rangoli's short life span ;) )
In the above photo, my son is busy playing with the colors.