On November 13 RWC faculty and students will be invited to take part in an activity called “Rangoli” as a part of International Education week. Sometimes referred to as the “Painted Prayers of India,” Rangoli is a traditional folk art of India. Rangoli decorations are believed to please the gods (deities) and are often displayed as a form of welcome.
Rangoli (ran-goal-i, also known as Alpana, Kolam and other names in different regions of India) is composed of colorful designs. It is a traditional art form that is practiced and used for many different occasions, such as decorating courtyards and walls of Indian houses, places of worship, and sometimes eating places as well. On some special occasions, Rangoli is painted in every home, with or without formal training in Rangoli art.
Other household occasions include a child’s birthday or naming ceremony. Typically, the Rangoli garden surrounds the sacred spot where pooja (prayer) is performed.
The Rangoli art is transferred from generation to generation and from friend to friend. Designs of flower petals, plants, leaves, animals, and geometrics are drawn. The powder of white stone, lime, rice flour and other cheap paste is typically used to draw intricate and ritual designs. Each state of India has its own way of painting Rangoli.
On November 13, from noon-1 p.m. in both the Muntz and the SAHB lobbies., two RWC students, Shredevi Banka and Munira Yassin, will guide participants in creating Rangoli designs of flower petals as a symbolic welcome. The designs were created by Shredevi who was taught the art form in her homeland of southern India.
Everyone is invited to stop by and use traditional Rangoli powder to help complete the designs. This is an RWC community project.