Onam Rangoli Design & Patterns / Pookolam Designs

Onam Rangoli Design:

Onam rangoli designs are made using flowers. In Tamil Nadu, rangoli floor designs are called pookolam and flowers like marigold and chrysanthemums are used to create them. During the festival of Onam, the design is changed every day and with each passing day, rangoli design becomes intricate and changes. The rangolis are created on wet mud or wet floor. The floor is cleaned and wiped before creating a design. Since flowers dry and fade easily, the selection of flowers is an important criterion. Bougainvillea flowers, for instance, dry up very quickly and hence, despite coming in several brilliant shades such as red, pink and white, can’t be used. Flowers such as daisies, roses, chrysanthemums, zinnia, cosmos and oleanders are used to fill up the pattern. Large flowers like dahlias are used to create separation between the lines and patterns. Not just petals but whole flowers can also be used for the design and pattern. In the end, it all boils down to the imagination of the artists that how he / she would want to decorate the rangoli. As they say that creativity knows no bounds, one can be as creative and experimental with the rangoli design as one wants to be. However, small size and lightweight Thumba flowers are important to use in Onam rangoli as it resembles Lord Vishnu’s foot.

Onam rangolis and rangolis, which are created for spiritual reasons, are never touched with feet or wiped off with a broom. These are cleared by hands.