| When people think of knot work design what typically | | | | some that had floral shapes. I found out that it is also |
| comes to mind are Celtic motifs from England and | | | | common during festivals to depict Hindu iconography, |
| Scotland. Like most people I knew nothing of the knot | | | | such as the conch, lotus or sacred Sanskrit letters. In |
| work design coming out of the Buddhist and Hindu | | | | Rajastan, which is in the northwest part of India, the |
| cultures of India until I spent a month in the South Indian | | | | Rangoli images are painted on the handles of swords |
| city of Chennai. | | | | or knives carved into animals Rangoli can also be |
| Walking in the early mornings, I'd find intricate knot work | | | | found on coconut shell used as gifts during weddings. |
| patterns drawn out free hand with flour on the streets | | | | In many cases, since only a general outline is depicted |
| in front of homes. Initially, my question was, how did | | | | which is not colored in, the images lean toward the |
| these designs, so common in Celtic knot work, end up | | | | abstract. |
| in India? | | | | From an entirely different perspective, Rangoli designs |
| These artistic scrolls were known as Rongoli, which is | | | | can be seen as a form of mandalas. Mandalas are a |
| a combination of two words: "Ranga" means God and | | | | sacred, archetypal symbol sometimes used as objects |
| "Oli" meaning to be pleased. A devout Hindu friend | | | | of contemplation in esoteric meditation practice. The |
| explained to me that the designs were a daily offering, | | | | basic idea is that zig-zags, circles, triangle or any shape |
| an artful expression of worship not only for the deities, | | | | are believed to have a certain effect on |
| but also for the birds that feast on the flour designs | | | | consciousness. Among the most elaborate mandalas |
| during the day. | | | | are drawn by Tibetans, some of which have knot |
| The tradition is truly ancient. Hindu epics thousands of | | | | work motifs; particularly, the endless knot which is a |
| years old describe cities where Rangoli were drawn | | | | well known Buddhist symbol representing eternality. |
| with camphor powder or multicolored stones. One | | | | Tibetans spend days creating detailed mandalas in |
| myth tells how a woman's Rangoli picture of flowers | | | | sand before ceremonially wiping the image out. |
| was so realistic that it attracted bees. | | | | Though the act of creating these patterns in ritualistic |
| The designs were also done with red earth and even | | | | and domestic settings are layered with meanings |
| depicted with milk carefully poured into a water vessel. | | | | rooted deeply in these cultures, it is safe to say that |
| The ability to draw these designs was considered so | | | | Rangoli teaches about reverence and the transience in |
| important that it brought status, particularly to a | | | | our human experience. The beauty of the moment, the |
| daughter-in-law seeking to impress her new | | | | sunrise and the day, comes and it goes. By the end of |
| mother-in-law. Even today, there can be a bit of playful | | | | the day, the Rangoli I would pass in the morning would |
| competition between house holds. | | | | be a faded shadow of its former glory. |
| The technique looks simple enough, but really requires | | | | As someone who is fascinated by the symbolic |
| a skill since it is done free hand. Sometimes I would | | | | meaning of Celtic design, my visit to India helped me to |
| come across people in the process of actually making | | | | see how universal knot work design is. For me, seeing |
| the designs. Rangoli images start from a matrix of | | | | the art drawn on the street was a fascinating and |
| dots that are placed in a particular configuration. These | | | | delightful experience which enabled me to gain a |
| are then connected by lines to create images. | | | | deeper appreciation of a fascinating culture. |
| I saw knot work motifs that were geometrical, and | | | | |