આ પોસ્ટનું ગુજરાતી ભાષાંતર કરવામાં આવ્યું નથી.
This past weekend, community members and families gathered at the Gujarati Community Center in the basement of Shree Ramji Mandir for a Rangoli event. Rangoli is an art form traditionally done during Diwali where families create patterns using sand, flowers, paint, and markers.
The Tradition of Rangoli in Gujarati Culture
In Gujarat, Rangoli is traditionally made at the entrance of homes and temples and it welcomes Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, into our homes.
Gujarati families create rangoli using coloured rice, coloured sand, and flower petals. It is community act, with neighbours sharing designs and techniques.
The word “rangoli” comes from the Sanskrit rangavali (“line of colour”), ranga meaning “colour” and avali meaning “row.” [1]
Rangoli and Its Connection to Diwali
Rangoli holds a special place during Diwali, the “Festival of Lights”. In Gujarat, Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness and the beginning of the Gujarati new year. The diyas and rangoli at the entrance of homes symbolize the welcoming of new beginnings and the blessings of prosperity.
Creating rangoli before lighting diyas is considered auspicious. In many homes, creating rangoli is one of the first steps of preparation for Diwali. [2]
The Story Behind Diwali
During the event, a story was read to our youngest rangoli artists that most Gujarati children grow up hearing: the return of Shree Ram, Mata Sita, and Lakshman to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, and the victory over the demon-king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps (diyas) to welcome them home which filled the night with light. [3]
For Gujaratis, Diwali is also a time for family gatherings, cleaning and decorating the home, exchanging sweets, and renewing goodwill. In my own family, we make ghugra and kharkariya and deliver them to family for Diwali. For the Gujarati New Year, we visit our relatives in order to receive blessings from our elders.
Shree Ramji Temple would like to wish everyone a happy Diwali!
Author: V. T. Patel
References
[1] Rangoli, Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/art/rangoli
[2] Tradition of Rangoli, Diwali Festival, https://www.diwalifestival.org/the-tradition-of-rangoli.html
[3] The Story of Shree Ram and Diwali, https://www.jkyog.org/blog/the-story-of-shree-ram-and-diwali-how-the-return-to-ayodhya-became-a-symbol-of-hope