Rangoli can be done in any design, and any colour, be it white or any pleasing combination from coloured saw dust or different coloured pulses and spices or coloured rice or petals of different flowers. Decorate the entrance of your house, along the pathway, around the food display, at the place of worship.

2.

Traditionally, rice flour/ wheat flour, kumkum and haldi are used at the place of worship. They are considered auspicious.

3.

Raw rice is also soaked for an hour and then ground to a thin fine paste. Using a wad of cloth soaked in the paste and adjusted along the ring finger, designs are drawn. On drying the white line designs look very nice. A dash of colour can be added if desired, with kumkum and haldi.

4.

For a quick job, moulds are available and so is fine white stone powder. Just fill the mould and roll it on the surface to get a lovely intricate design in white.

5.

You can also colour rice at home using food colours. Wet the food colour powder with a few drops of water and rub the rice in it till it is uniformly coloured. Do not forget to wear gloves to protect your hands from getting coloured. Dry the rice on paper, in shade before use.
Caution: If the rice is not completely dry it may leave coloured stains on the floor.

6.

Rose petals, marigold petals, small purple paper flowers, finely cut greens-grass/ leaves-even methi leaves…just fill up the large designs. Use strings of marigold and if you like strings of kanakambara/ jasmine flowers to outline. And add diyas to any design that you make for the soft sparkle.

7.

Special floating candles are also available in the market. Float them in Urlis (big containers of water) along with flower petals.

1) Always clean the area of all the dirt where the Rangoli i is to be made else the color of the Rangoli will not come out properly.

2) Don’t worry about a new design, if you are the beginner then you can use a design from a book. Geometrical designs maybe easier to implement rather than a more difficult design.

3) Stencils, moulds, petals of various flowers may be used as additional accessories. You have stencils of the Diya( Lamp) as well as the Swastika available in the market which can be used with ease.

4) Draw the Rangoli at a spot where you do not expect visitors to walk often else they may end up treading on the Rangoli. For example keep it at the side of the doorstep and not straight outside it. Do not keep it right out side the entrance to the elevator on your floor. Also keep the Rangoli out of reach from dogs and other pets as they may unintentionally spoil it.

5) Use dry powder in Rangolis preferably. If wet powder is used then it may leave a mark or stain on the floor even after the Rangoli has been removed.

6) If the Rangoli is drawn at the entrance of your home during the time of the festival like Diwali, then you can decorate the part next to the Rangoli as well with lights and other decorative stuff.

7) Around the Rangoli, you may keep Diyas (Lamps) for lighting and as a symbol of Light on the night where there is no moon.

8) Rangolis may be drawn on every day of the festival or the same one may be used.