Rangoli

One of my favorite early morning experiences in India is seeing several generations of women in colorful saris just outside their humble home, working in silent harmony together to create a perfect temporary colored pattern on the ground in front of the entrance. Rangoli, also known as a kolam , is street art in which patterns are created using colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals. Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, or flower and petal shapes, but they can also be very detailed and intricate. The purpose of Rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck as well as create a sacred welcoming area for the gods. The patterns are washed away and new ones created daily symbolizing the fresh possibilities of every dawning day. We found this beautiful kolam in the village of Kuilapalayam on the morning of Pongal, Tamil New Year, 2014.