Go organic: Make your own Rangoli colours at home

Have you ever wondered what rangoli colours are made up of? We are used to buying these cheerful packets at the market or online and using them in almost any Indian festival. Though ready-made rangoli colours are supposed to be safe, most companies are using harmful and even toxic chemicals to make the colours ‘fast’ or longer-lasting. So how about going back to nature this year and making the colours yourself? It could be the perfect fun home activity for parents and kids of any age. We have given several colour options below, try out as many as you can.  

Bright yellow / yellow ochre rangoli 
Equal parts of turmeric powder and rice flour should be taken and thoroughly mixed till they are blended. Mix this in water to get a thick paste. For a less ochre shade, use equal measures of chickpea flour and rice flour.  

Vermilion red to flame red rangoli  
Dry pomegranate and carrot peels in the sun, grind to a powder, and mix. For a fragrant version, sun dry rose and hibiscus petals, grind to a powder and mix. You can mix and match these 4 ingredients to suit the degree of redness you want.  

Fragrant orange rangoli  
Take ¾ th measure of dried orange peels with ¼ th marigold petals. Grind together and mix evenly. It will give you rangoli that smells fresh and has a beautiful orange colour whether you use it as powder or mix it in water to draw.  

Fragrant wood brown rangoli  
This one is the simplest. Did you know powdered cinnamon sticks can give you an incredibly fragrant soft brown rangoli? This will not be very effective if mixed in water, and given cinnamon’s cost, just try using a bit of it in your rangoli design for effect.  

Deep magenta rangoli  
Magenta is a striking colour, especially when it comes in combination with yellow, orange and green. A surprising source is dried beetroot flake that you need to grind to a powder.  

Making these colours at home is easy, cheap and a great way to bond with kids during festivities.