Re: More on Rangoli
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on March 28, 2000 at 10:27:16:
In Reply to: Re: More on Rangoli posted by Natasha Papousek on March 28, 2000 at 08:31:24:
that IS a great site! and spreads out in so many interrelated
directions .... well organized, well written! (how rare and
wonderful!)
Best as I can tell .... in the period from 1700 to 1900, when
patterned henna was becoming more popular in India, (previously was
almost exclusively dip henna) the patterns used were adapted straight
out of Rangoli. It's hard to say whether the women used these
(Rangoli derived)patterns because they were already really familiar
with them, and the patterns were auspicious, beloved and meaningful to
them, or whether they were avoiding the patterns commonly used by the
Muslims....to express their separate identity from an invading group.
In any case, while henna was in the hands of regular ladies in the
first half of the 20th century, many favorite patterns in the rural
areas were nearly identical with Rangoli patterns (and still are for
everyday henna) . As technique and supplies improved, (cones, pattern
books etc) towards the second half of the 20th century, the patterns
in Indian urban professional henna evolved into the patterns you see
in the Navneet Mehandi books.....these seem to derive a lot of motifs
from textiles, and often are done to compliment the embroidery being
worn.
