Diwali Rangoli Designs – Significance of Deepavali Rangoli Patterns

Why Rangoli designs are drawn during Diwali? What is the importance of Deepavali Rangoli patterns? Rangoli, also known as Alpana, Alpona, Aipan, Aripana or Muggu, is one of the main attractions during Diwali. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits our homes during Diwali. To welcome her in a grand way, devotees draw Rangoli designs and Alpana patterns in front of their homes and at puja places. The main objective of making Rangoli designs during Diwali is to decorate homes in a proper manner to invite and to make the Goddess of wealth to stay for ever in their homes.

Rangoli and Deep or diya (lamps) are the main objects to invite Goddess Lakshmi in Diwali time. Deep is the symbol of happiness whereas Rangoli marks the prosperity in one’s home. Many people draw flowers, birds, footprint, conch shells, trees and leaves in their Rangoli designs. The most drawn Rangoli during Diwali is lotus.

Apart from mythological or spiritual significance, Rangoli designs also benefit humna beings. The raw material, rice flour or other flour, used in Rangoli designs effect the growth of some harmful insects. It also provides the food for some useful little insects and worms.

Diwali 2009 Rangoli Competition in Leicester city of UK

Diwali Rangoli Competitions are common in villages, towns and cities in India. But, Leicester City Council in UK will be conducting Rangoli competition to enhance the festivity of Diwali in 2009. Leicester hosts the largest celebrations for Diwali outside India. People of Indian origin live in the city in large numbers.

Zeenews reports:

The Leicester city council in UK has launched a rangoli competition to design an artwork that best captures the excitement of Diwali festivities in the town. Locals believe that Leicester, which has a large minority of people of Indian origin, hosts the largest Diwali festivities outside India.
A rangoli competition has been launched for children under the age of 16. The winning design will be turned into a piece of mosaic art by a professional artist, and will be displayed as part of Diwali celebrations before being put on permanent show, a city council official said.
The competition is being run by Leicester City Council, Leicester Belgrave Mela and Alliance & Leicester (Santander), which is supporting this year’s Diwali celebrations. Leicester City Council’s festivals and events manager Maggie Shutt said: “We’re really glad to have Santander and Alliance & Leicester on board to sponsor Diwali this year, and it’s great that Santander want to support a local community Rangoli project which encourages creative participation from young people.”