Wet Arisi maavu kolam or alpona borders
Rangoli has synonym in the art formd arisi maavu kolam (rangoli made with rice flour paste ) in Tamil Nadu and Alpona of West Bengal are two of them. Both are somewhat similiar..
Alpona for beginners
Arisi maavu kolam translated means rangoli drawn with rice flour. It can be drawn with dry or wet rice flour. However I discuss here wet rice flour rangoli since the technique is similar to that of traditional alpona ( I understand it is also drawn with rice flour paste)
The thickness or consistency of the rice flour paste varies according to rangoli making method adoped by us.. We can use only fingers or a cloth dipped in rice flour paste to draw the kolam..
At present ready-made sticks are available. All designs here have been taken when the flour is wet. The rangoli becomes bright when the flour dries.
Alpona design simple
I understand that alpona design for door, stairs , alpona border designs are common. Alpona art is common in West Bengal. I have shared a wet rice flour rangoli below considered to be auspicious and drawn in Pooja room in South India.
It can be drawn as alpona for Laxmi Puja.
