How to make a Rangoli Diwali decoration

We often transform our home to celebrate festivals and occasions. Why don't you create your own Diwali decoration to hang up in your home?

Rangoli is the art of drawing images and motifs on the floor and walls of one's home using different colour powders. A Rangoli image stands for a sign of welcome. The main purpose of making Rangolis in Diwali is to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, to individual homes .It is also thought to bring good luck. Rangoli patterns are normally symmetrical and can be geometric. Common Rangoli themes are celestial symbols i.e. sun, moon, stars, and images from nature i.e. peacocks, mango tree, flowers etc.

In our Rangoli design we have used circles to represent the moon. Diwali is a festival that always falls sometime between October and November, but the exact date varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon.

You will need:

bright coloured paper including metallic paper, scissors, red string, glue stick, pencil, coloured pens

A4 Bright coloured paper or card

Shiny paper

Scissors

Glue

Drawing pencil

String

Step 1

Cut out circles from A4 coloured card.

We are using a circle to represent the shape of the full moon. Diwali is a festival that always falls some time between October and November, but the exact date varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon.

Step 2

Cut out shapes and patterns. Draw some shapes from coloured card and shiny paper.

Remember to make a few of each so you can repeat your pattern.

You could use a paisley pattern which is made up of boteh or buta which are teardrop shapes with a curved upper end. This design originated on fabrics from Persia and India. In the 19th century shawls with this pattern were produced in Paisley in Scotland, a textile centre, and today it is often referred to as a Paisley design.

Step 3

Why not get the whole family involved?

Perhaps each member of your family could draw and cut out some shapes to make one circle of their own.

Add the circles together with some string on the back .

Now you're ready to find somewhere to hang them up to celebrate the festival of light and colour.

Congratulations!

Now you can hang your Rangoli decoration up at home. Share your finished decorations with us on social media.