Friday, February 03, 2012

Rangoli, India’s Connect the Dots Folk Art


Rangoli designs can be made from dry flour, colored rice, sand or even flower petals, and it is thought to bring good luck. The designs are created on the floor by the front door, in courtyards, around stainless steel food plates or disposable banana leaf food plates during Hindu festivals and weddings. Dots are first made using the thumb and index finger in rows and then the dots are connected and filled in to create the designs. The number of dots in each row and the number of rows are specified in Rangoli pattern books. This design is a typical one for Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
The dots were made with french knots and the line designs are in chain stitch hand embroidery. Beads, sequins, shisha mirror embellishments

Detail:

6 comments:

Jan said...

This is lovely and so much work! I'm assuming you are of Indian descent? I'd like to see this larger so I could see more detail but it wouldn't enlarge on my computer. Nice work!

Wendy said...

Meena, its wonderful! I too would like to see a larger image or one of detail. I love Hindi art and all the detail it contains. And since I practice a Hindu form of yoga, have great respect for the country, its people and traditions.
Did you stitch the mirrors in? I've always wanted to know how to do that! Well done!

ann said...

Stunning! This is indeed a piece of ART!

fastfriday said...

I love the color transitions and the feeling of silver beneath the intricate patterns. Sue Church

Marilyn Wall said...

Meena I agree with Jan, would love to see a larger image. This piece has so much detail. Thanks for telling us about Rangoli.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Hi Meena, it's fun to hear about something new...very cool piece