Enhance the Asian decor in your home with creative Rangolis

As promised in this blog post on how to decorate your home in the Indian style, here is a handy guide to creating a Rangoli in your home. Rangolis are often referred to as Painted Prayers. They are traditionally linked to a religious event such as a puja in India, but of late, they have also become an easy way to pretty up spaces. Indian homes also create colorful rangolis at their doorstep as a symbolic welcome to guests. Believe me, one does feel honored and wanted when entering a home with a doorstep rangoli.

A colorful corner rangoli
A colorful corner rangoli
Picture courtesy: paulancheta

 
So why not learn this creative and easy peasy art, make your home look colorful, and welcome your guests (it need not be on your doorstep, but on your living floor, or wherever your Indian decor is arranged) with a rangoli? If you are planning a party with the Indian theme, read the post below for a grand idea on how to do the “aarthi” for your guests too.

Coming back to Rangolis, they can be as simple or complicated as you wish. For a simple Rangoli like the one below, all you need is a piece of white chalk.

a simple rangoli made of white chalk.
Picture courtesy: mr prudence

 
The above deign will look great on dark floors and wooden floors. If you are working on a light colored floor, then substitute white with a dark colored chalk.

That was a very basic rangoli design. How about making a more colorful one now? Check this out.

a colorful rangoli on the floor
Picture courtesy: mr prudence

 
Much better, right? But still very basic.

This next one is really colorful, and the medium is rangoli powder (available in Indian stores), chalk and diyas. Quite a combination. It was clicked by photographer Naim Shaikh at his office in Mumbai last Diwali.

a combination of chalk and diya rangoli
Picture courtesy: Naim Shaikh

 
You will be happy to know that Rangoli is not just about drawing designs with a chalk. There are various other media – colored powder (like the one above), flowers, diyas (small Indian earthen lamps, like the kind used during Diwali), grains and dried legumes. The most attractive designs use a combination of these media. Chalk is usually used as the base, to draw outlines of the patterns. The picture is then filled in and accented with the medium of your choice.

the attractive rangoli made by color powder, flowers, diya, grains and dried legumes
Rangoli designed, created and photographed
by kamerakrazy

Rangoli made by pulses and grains
Rangoli with pulses and grains clicked at the YUMI
Festival 2006 by food chain consultant Rose Bridger

Mixed Media rangoli
Mixed Media rangoli/
Picture courtesy paulancheta

 
In my quest for beautiful and original rangolis, I came across this very simplistic, yet eye catching and thoroughly original design by Nirmitee. She uses flowers and leaves to make her unique rangoli. Check it out.

flowers and leaves to make rangoli
Rangoli designed, created and photographed
by Nirmitee Raorane

 

And now, hold your breath, because nothing will prepare you for these awesome designs. Created by Sujata, these are true masterpieces.

peacock rangoli made by fresh flower

peacock rangoli made by rangoli powder and chalk

The peacock below is done with rangoli powder and chalk, while the one on the left is done with fresh flowers.

Rangolis designed, created and photographed by sujata

I asked Sujata for some tips and this is what she had to say, “Yes, I do sketch sometimes on paper first but mostly its spontaneous. For a big rangoli, it’s better to plan out the design, the colors and the medium out first. However, if you just want to create something fun, innovate as you create. Blend styles and mediums, and don’t restrict yourself to the typical traditional styles. I love to explore and encourage those who are interested, so I hope these pictures help out the ‘creative kind’ who read your blog”.

To get you started, here are links to sites that offer rangoli design pictures for download.
Aspex Design
Journey Through India
DiwaliFestival.org

So there you go, add some color to your home and life. Make rangolis with flowers, grains, legumes, beads, bottle caps, sand, anything! The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

9 Comments

  1. Wow!! I’ll attempt a x’massy rangoli 🙂

    – Clara

  2. Nice Article
    For home and decor products in India visit http://www.brandsindiaonline.com website. This website consolidates good brands avaliable in India for Home and Decor prodcuts. Ofcourse you cannot buy Rangolies.

    Thanks,
    Rajeev
    http://www.brandsindiaonline.com

  3. Thanks for stopping by Clara. Happy holidays 🙂

    Hi Rajeev, thanks for stopping by! Will have a look at your website:)

    – Sharon

  4. These are all so special !
    (Just to let you know -I’ve put a link to your blog on my blog) …
    Judith

  5. Hi Judith. Just had a look at your blog, and it’s lovely! I have bookmarked it, as I wish to go through your older posts too:)

    Thanks for the link, we are honored! 🙂

    – Sharon

  6. Just came to take a look at the rangoli by kamerakrazy…

  7. You have provided a nice collection of Rangoli Designs. Best Rangoli designs with flowers and colors easy rangoli design

  8. Hi

    your each and every rangoli design are so good and it can help in home decoration. i will follow your blog for future use. and thanks thanks for your valuable suggestion.