Ratham Muggulu
These are the traditional Ratham or Chariot Rangolis, drawn on 3rd and 4th day of the Sankranti festival. on 3rd day the Ratham is drawn towards the house-i.e Lord is entering the house. On fourth day it is drawn going out-send off to Lord.
This is the time(whole month before Sankranti) when the local deities of the temples are brought out of temples, fully decked in fabulous and rich silks, jewellery made of gold and precious gems and decorated with flowers are paraded on chariots enabling all those people who cannot go to temples for various reasons, a glimpse of Lord. They are accompanied by the horses, elephants or other such things owned by the Deities(temples), artists performing various acts and traditional arts, musicians singing, dancers dancing with much pomp and show.
When the deities are paraded every one comes out to pray and catch a glimpse. Ladies come out with offerings of flowers, fruits, coconut, turmeric, vermilion, beetle leaves and nut powder, some money etc. they light camphor and give aarati to the deities. Every one is then blessed by the priests. It is some thing to be seen. I miss the small town/village life where the festivals used to be celebrated with much enthusiasm.
The 4 lines in orange colour are drawn first and form the base. Then they are joined(green lines).
This is the simplest form-one tier chariot.
This is two tier chariot with 3 cells or rooms
Slightly varied form of joining the lines.
This is 3 tiered one with 6 cells.
Actually in towns and villages where one has huge front yards, huge chariots are drawn with many tiers and cells. The bigger the more appreciation from friends and neighbours. I will try to post more complicated ones and other types of Ratham drawn with dots, free hand etc.
Watch out for more....
1 comment:
Phew, thanks!!! My daughter loves rangolis but I don't know any (I've forgotten or can only remember partly). And, I'm not much of an artist. I'll, hopefully, lay the second one. Thanks a ton!
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