Rangoli
/rʌŋˈɡoʊ.li/noun
A decorative pattern made on the ground, usually with colored powders, rice, or flower petals, especially in India.
Did you know?Rangoli is a modern umbrella term for a long South Asian tradition of threshold designs, and many regional names connect the practice to auspiciousness, color, and ritual protection rather than mere decoration.
Etymological Timeline
Classical/Sanskrit and regional Indian traditions
Indic
raṅga / related regional forms
“Color, dye, theater, or ornamentation, depending on the branch and language”
Pre-modern South Asia
Various
regional ritual floor-art terms
“Ritual drawings made at thresholds using powders, rice, or paste for welcome and protection”
19th-20th Century
English
rangoli
“A borrowed term used in English for decorative floor designs from Indian practice”
Modern English
English
rangoli
“A decorative floor pattern made for festivals, ceremonies, and auspicious occasions”