Rangoli time-for Diwali

Diwali and the festival of lights is a festival of light and colour and giving. The colour comes from the wonderful Rangoli that every indian family will have at the entrance to their homes

Most of the patterns are circular, indicative of the endlessness of time. The day-to-day Rangoli patterns are simple or intricate. The most common rangoli designs start with dots which are connected to form lines and other geometrical shapes such as swastika, aum, stars, squares, circles or triangles These geometrical patterns must be formed in continuous, unbroken lines often made with coloured sand and rice.

We had the pleasure of being invited to a particularly beautiful Diwali celebration. Our hosts cooked a special meal for us and wrote out the menu and explained the ingredients used in all the delicious dishes.  Then each woman was offered a coconut, a fruit, haldi, spices, betel leaves and a gift.

We helped light the small lights and then sat back and enjoyed their warmth.
Happy Diwali to all. May the year ahead be happy and prosperous.