Start with the single diya and flower if you are new to rangoli. For a larger entrance, try the round floral pattern or the peacock with a lotus. Work on a clean, dry floor, mark the outlines with chalk and fill broad areas before adding white dots and fine lines.
Photos and how to make each design
1. Peacock, lotus and lantern
Draw a round red base, outline the blue peacock and add green feathers beside the pink lotus.
2. Shubh Labh and two diyas
Mark a square blue border and reserve space for the white lettering, two lamps and lantern.
3. Baby Ganesha on a lotus
Sketch both ears around a centre line and use blue for the face and pink for the ears and lotus.
4. Four flowers around a blue diamond
Place yellow and white flowers at the corners and pull small piles of white powder inward with a spoon.
5. Ganesha face with leaves
Draw the curling trunk in white, fill the face with blue and frame it with green leaves and pink petals.
6. Cow and calf
Fill the two profiles with white and use black for the eyes, brown for the horns and yellow for the background.
7. Woman in a red sari holding a diya
Outline the arm first, then fill the sari with red, add a yellow trim and finish the lamp flame.
8. Blue peacock and purple diya
Draw the curved blue neck and fill each green feather with nested yellow, orange and blue shapes.
9. Round flower with four clay lamps
Trace a central circle and repeat blue and yellow petals around it. Place the lamps outside the powder.
10. Simple flower and diya
Draw a pink flower beside a shallow lamp, then add green leaves and a yellow and red flame.
Frequently asked questions
Which design is easiest?
Choose the last design and keep just one flower and one lamp.
What colours work well together?
Use yellow with deep blue, or pair pink and green with a thin white outline.
How do I keep the edges neat?
Fill small areas with a paper cone and remove stray powder with a dry brush.
Can I use flower petals?
Yes. Use marigold petals for broad shapes and rice flour for outlines.
