an excuse to play outside

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: Rangoli (also known as alpona, mandna and several other words) is an : art form very closely related to henna in India. Women make patterns : on the ground with rice flour paste to create sacred spaces, or just : fancy the place up for celebrations .... Rangoli are such a natural : extention of henna, and a lot of henna pattern motifs are borrowed : from Rangoli. Rangoli has a sacred background (as opposed to henna's : social background), so if that's an issue for you, treat it with : respect. It was traditionally a way of creating a magical space, or a : locus for kindly deities .... and is ideal for making a small sacred : space. : Making Rangoli is a great way to practice henna patterns when you've : run out of skin, and want any excuse to go play outside in the spring : sunshine. : I worked up a recipe for the rangoli flour paste with stuff easily : available from US groceries : Wondra Gold Medal flour for gravy and : sauce is Ideal to make the paste ....because it disolves into water : without lumps. Koolaid powder is a great colorant. Though : traditionally women dipped a bit of rag into the flour paste and use : that for drawing .... carrot bags are fantastic (and frosting bags : would be just fine). The results are beautiful and soooo much fun. : Mix flour and water to a consistancy a little thinner than pancake : batter .... fill your bag .... and find a stretch of bare ground, : parking lot or sidewalk .... and do exactly what you've been doing in : henna, but do it with flour paste, much larger, on the ground. : The flour paste dries quickly in the sun, and is sturdy for a few days : .... but is environmentally friendly and gone with the next rain or : vigorous sweeping. : The best thing about filling your driveway with rangoli (other the : pure joy of sitting in the dirt and playing with paints ) is watching : all the children that come walking by on their way home from school : wonder what on earth these patterns are ....... : It's a great way to practice the henna patterns from the Navneet : books ...... build up your technique and speed before the summer : festival season starts! : Want a sheet or 3 or Rangoli patterns? : Email me! Free. The ususal. : If I were a elementry school teacher, I'd have all the kids on the : blacktop doing this in a heartbeat! Tie it in with geography, : geometry, math, social studies, art ....

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