Rangoli is the popular floor art of India. It is an auspicious art of decorating courtyards and prayer halls in India . Some use rice flour to draw a rangoli which is the traditional medium to be used while others use sandstone or limestone powder.
The designs are then colored with various colored powdered dyes.
Although this floor-art is known as Rangoli commonly in many parts of India, it is known as Kolam in Tamil Nadu, Muggulu in Andhra pradesh, Rangavalli in Karnataka, Poovidal or Pookalam in Kerala, Chowkpurana in Uttar Pradesh, Madana in Rajasthan, Aripana in Bihar and Alpana in Bengal.
The colorful tradition of rangoli-making dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 B.C). Rangolis were often drawn with coarse rice flour since it served as a food source to nature's little critters like ants and crows. Rice flour is seen as an offering to Lakshmi, the goddess of rice and wealth. The goddess has the power to attract prosperity and to prevent poverty from entering the home.
