Prathima Devi Mudunuri

Prathima Devi Mudunuri came to New Zealand four years ago from India.

Diwali is celebrated in India, at about the same time as the midAutumn Moon Festival. The activity she demonstrated was not specifically for either celebration as Rangoli patterns are used throughout the year.

Rangoli is a decorative drawing on the floor or at entrances to homes. It is thought to bring good luck, prosperity on the house and in the family, and to welcome guests. Some mothers in India do this activity every morning, or on a special festive occasion like Diwali, Onam, and Pongal. Prathima was taught by her mother and she is teaching the art to her daughter who has already created her own designs. The art is traditionally handed down from mother to daughter.

It was intriguing to watch Prathima bring out packets of coloured powder and chalks and watch her mark out dots on the floor. Then she joined the dots up and created smaller designs inside the large square. “You can start off with a different number of dots, then you join the dots to get patterns and then you fill the patterns with colours” says Prathima.

The coloured powders filling the designs are outlined with white powder which is made of rice flour. In India, the flour can feed the ants which may come by, bringing good luck to the family. The patterns are infinite and you can create and expand them given time and space. It looks easy when Prathima is doing it but over her lifetime, she has probably made thousands of designs.

Prathima’s rangoli included a full moon at the centre of her pattern with flowers and candles in the corners. Flower petals can also be used and incorporated into the design. Making these patterns can take a lot of time but Prathima enjoys it and time passes quickly when she is immersed in the art.