Rangoli-172

Sankranti Special

25 dots-3 rows in center, 23, 21,.....to 3 dots-straight dots ie., one placed below another. This Rangoli reflects the spirit of the festival. 

The clay pots with Pongal(a rice preparation), which is prepared sweet and spicy separately and the recipes vary from house to house. It is then offered to God.

Kites-which are flown during this period mostly in North India and some parts of our state as the winds are favourable for kite flying,

Gobbillu-cow dung shaped into pyramids and decorated with pumpkin flowers, vermilion and turmeric are placed on the Rangolis in the morning and evening for the entire month of Dhanurmaasam and worshipped as Goddess Gauri. Young girls worship her and request for a good husband and happy life. The young girls of the neighbourhood visit all the houses worshipping these Gobbillu. They also sing songs known as Gobbi Paatalu (songs of Gobbillu), while circumbulating the Gobbillu, either clapping hands or with kolatam sticks. These songs are folk songs handed down over generations from the ladies of the house to their girl child. They contain praise of Goddess Gauri, and also requests for what type of husband they want.

Sugarcane-the green ones you can see reflects that new crop has arrived at the households in the villages. This is basically a harvest festival or agricultural festival celebrating harvest as well as the Sun entering the Zodiac sign of Capricorn.

In the center you can see the logs and the fire. This being winter season at its peak, huge bonfires are lit on the first day of the festival known as Bhogi. All the old and unused clutter is cleared from the houses and burnt. Huge logs are placed in the cross roads of the villages, towns or cities and burnt. It is where children, men and women gather together to celebrate.

The star of David or the Sri Chakra I have drawn represents the festival of Rangolis drawn each day morning and evening reverently for a month. This festival is festival of Rangolis too....

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Rangoli-171

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.

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Rangoli-170

Nela Muggulu

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