Rangoli : A Significant & Popular Art Form For Beautifying The Houses
Rangoli : Also Known As Muggu or Rangavalli in North India, is an ancient Indian tradition of beautifying the porch and interior of houses. It involves creating intricate patterns using rice flour and lime paste. The muggus are typically made by women, who coat the ground with flour and then draw the rangavalli on top of it while the khlanapi jalli (a wet cow dung mixture) is still wet. The use of three stones or chalk pieces is common in making the rangavalli , both inside and outside the house.
Ordinary muggus are created daily using ordinary flour and dung. It is believed that by making these muggus, Goddess Mahalakshmi walks into the house. These muggus are made early in the morning as part of the daily tradition.
Colorful Triads are special rangavallis created for specific occasions. They are made using different colored powders and are often prepared for competitions, to celebrate the new year, or for auspicious events. Some rangolis may also depict birds, animals, flowers, and other motifs.
Festival rangolis are particularly popular and elaborate. For example, during Sankranti, the entire village is adorned with muggus. Sankranti muggus are decorated with ball flower petals and gobbemmas (small cow dung balls).
Another style of muggu creation involves connecting dots. Rangolis are made by connecting a specific number of dots, such as 21-dot muggu or dot-left-dot muggu, to form intricate patterns.
On the last day of Sankranti, a special rangoli called Ratham Muggu is placed in front of the house. A line is connected from that rangoli to the one in front of the neighbor’s house, symbolizing the connection and unity between neighbors. This marks the end of the Sankranti rangoli tradition, and regular rangoli patterns continue afterward.
Rangoli & Practical Significance
Muggus not only add beauty to the house but also have practical significance. The biological chemicals present in the materials used for muggus help prevent insects and common diseases from entering the house.
While muggus can still be found in some cities, they have become less prevalent in Telugu villages due to the rise of concrete buildings and cramped apartments. However, the tradition and art of muggu-making continue to be cherished and celebrated in various regions.
Also Read : https://telugutraditions.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=853&action=edit