Festival rangoli designs are not only for Diwali. Holi, Karva Chauth, Teej, Chhath Puja, Akshaya Tritiya, Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Adhik Maas, Kartik Purnima and even Christmas all feel more special with a fresh design at the door.
These 20 rangoli designs with colours for festivals use the symbols of each day: pichkari, dhol and gulal bowls for Holi, the sieve and moon for Karva Chauth, the soop and rising sun for Chhath, sugarcane and Vishnu’s footprints for gyaras, the kalash and gold coin for Akshaya Tritiya, and the star and tree for Christmas. Most are simple rangoli designs with colours for festivals that take 15 to 40 minutes.
Festival dates move every year with the moon calendar, so keep a few designs ready. For the big ones, see Diwali rangoli designs, Navratri rangoli designs and Sankranti rangoli designs.
Holi Rangoli Designs and Holi Special Rangoli
Holi rangoli designs are the brightest of the year. A holi special rangoli can use the same gulal you play with, but keep it away from the play area so it lasts till evening.
1. Five Gulal Bowls Holi Rangoli
Five gulal bowls in a ring with colour splashes between. Holi rangoli designs simple enough for 20 minutes.
2. Crossed Pichkari Holi Rangoli with Rainbow Spray
Two pichkaris crossing with sprays of colour. Use a tea strainer for the spray. Medium, 35 minutes.
3. Holika Dahan Flames and Coconut Rangoli
For Holika dahan night: a stack of wood with tall flames and a coconut. Fifteen minutes.
4. Dhol Drum Holi Rangoli with Colour Bursts
A dhol in the middle with colour bursting out on all sides, made with gulal and flower petals. A happy rangoli for Holi at the society gate. Medium, 40 minutes.Karva Chauth and Teej Rangoli Designs
Karva chauth rangoli designs, also spelled karwa chauth rangoli, show the karva pot, the sieve, the moon and the diya. Teej rangoli designs add green leaves and a swing.
5. Karva Chauth Sieve, Moon and Diya Rangoli
The sieve, the moon and a diya, the three things everyone waits for that night. Medium, 35 minutes.
6. Karva Pot and Bangles Rangoli
A karva pot with a spout, red and gold bangles around. Fifteen minutes, 45 cm.
7. Teej Jhula Swing Rangoli with Green Leaves
Teej is about the monsoon swing. Green leaves and a red swing. Twenty five minutes.Chhath Puja Rangoli Designs
Chhath puja rangoli designs show the rising sun, the soop (bamboo winnow), sugarcane and water. They are often made at the ghat.
8. Chhath Soop with Fruit under the Rising Sun
The soop with fruits and a diya, the sun rising behind. Medium, 40 minutes.
9. Sugarcane Arch Rangoli for Chhath Puja
Sugarcane stalks lean together to make the Chhath canopy. Thirty minutes.
10. Floating Diyas at the Ghat Rangoli
Rows of diyas on wavy blue water. Easy and lovely at dusk. Twenty minutes.Akshaya Tritiya, Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima Rangoli
Akshaya tritiya rangoli designs bring gold and plenty. Ashadi ekadashi rangoli designs honour Vitthal with the tulsi and the pandharpur wari. Agiyaras rangoli designs in Gujarat are small and white.
11. Akshaya Tritiya Kalash of Gold Coins and Rice
A kalash overflowing with gold coins and rice grains for never-ending plenty. Medium, 40 minutes.
12. Ashadi Ekadashi Tulsi, Veena and Saffron Flags
Tulsi vrindavan with a veena and the saffron flags of the wari. Medium, 45 minutes.
13. Eleven Dot White Lotus for Agiyaras
Eleven dots for Agiyaras, the eleventh day. Ten minutes with white powder.
14. Kartik Purnima Rangoli with Moon and Diyas
Full moon over rows of diyas, the night of Dev Deepawali. Medium, 40 minutes.Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Gyaras and Adhik Maas Rangoli
On Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also called Dev Uthani gyaras or ganna gyaras, families draw Vishnu’s footprints and a small mandap of sugarcane to wake him from his four-month rest. Adhik Maas rangoli is made through the extra month, which is also given to Vishnu. See Tulsi Vivah rangoli designs for the wedding that follows.
15. Dev Uthani Sugarcane Mandap Rangoli
Real sugarcane stalks tied into a little tent over a square chowk with Vishnu's footprints. Ganna gyaras rangoli for the courtyard. Medium, 45 minutes.
16. Gyaras Rangoli with Conch, Chakra and Lotus
A traditional gyaras rangoli drawn with geru and rice paste: conch on one side, chakra on the other, lotus in the middle. Twenty five minutes.
17. Adhik Maas Tulsi Pot with a Diya Ring
A tulsi pot circled by small diyas, for daily lamp offering through Adhik Maas. Keep the outline and refresh the colours each week. Thirty minutes.Christmas Rangoli Designs
Christmas rangoli designs are popular in schools, offices and mixed housing societies. Red, green, white and gold are the main colours.
18. Christmas Tree Rangoli with Gold Star
A triangle tree in three layers, round ornaments as dots and a big star. Twenty minutes.
19. Holly Wreath Rangoli with Candy Canes
A round holly wreath with a bow and two candy canes. Medium, 35 minutes.
20. Christmas Star Rangoli on a Dot Grid
A star on a dot grid with snowflake corners. A good one for school kids. Fifteen minutes.Quick Guide: Symbols and Colours for Each Festival
| Festival | Symbols | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Holi | Gulal bowls, pichkari, dhol, flames | Pink, green, yellow, blue |
| Karva Chauth | Sieve, moon, karva, diya | Red, gold, white |
| Teej | Swing, leaves, bangles | Green, red |
| Chhath | Soop, sun, sugarcane, water | Orange, yellow, blue |
| Akshaya Tritiya | Kalash, gold coins, rice | Gold, yellow, pink |
| Ekadashi and gyaras | Tulsi, veena, flags, sugarcane, footprints | Green, saffron, white, gerua red |
| Adhik Maas | Tulsi, diyas, conch, chakra | Yellow, green, blue |
| Christmas | Tree, star, wreath | Red, green, gold |
Easy Rangoli Designs for Festival Mornings
On a busy festival day, choose a 30 to 50 cm design. Draw the outline in white, fill one main colour, and add dots. That is enough. Many homes in Maharashtra and the south draw Friday rangoli designs for Lakshmi every week: a small lotus or kolam is perfect. For more quick ideas see easy rangoli designs.
Making a Festival Rangoli Last
- Sweep and wipe the floor with a damp cloth, then let it dry for five minutes before you start.
- Mix a spoon of fine sand into each colour so it does not fly away in the evening breeze.
- Place diyas or flower pots around the edge so nobody steps on it.
- For festivals with many days, like Chhath or Kartik month, keep the outline and refresh only the fill and flowers each morning.
- Clean up with a soft broom, not water, so the colour does not stain the tiles.
Colour Safety on Holi and Every Festival
Many shop colours are synthetic. Keep children from blowing the powder, wash hands after drawing, and do not let pets lick it. For Holi, use herbal gulal or haldi and flower powders. A 60 cm design needs about 250 g of colour.
Common questions
Which festival rangoli designs are easiest for beginners?
Agiyaras lotus, Karva Chauth pot and the Christmas star on dots are the easiest. Each takes 10 to 15 minutes with 2 or 3 colours.
What is drawn in Chhath puja rangoli designs?
The rising or setting sun, a bamboo soop with fruits and thekua, sugarcane stalks, a kalash and diyas on water. It is drawn at home or near the ghat.
Can I use gulal to make rangoli for Holi?
Yes, gulal works well for filling but it is very soft. Outline in white rangoli powder first, then fill with gulal using a spoon. Easy holi rangoli designs with petals last longer in the wind.
What rangoli is made on Akshaya Tritiya?
A kalash with gold coins and rice, a lotus for Lakshmi, or Laxmi charan. Gold and yellow colours bring the feel of prosperity. See Laxmi rangoli designs too.
What is drawn for dev uthani ekadashi rangoli?
A square chowk in gerua and rice paste, Vishnu’s footprints pointing inside, and sugarcane stalks tied over it. Water chestnuts, ber and diyas are placed around. It is made on the evening of the gyaras.
How many colours do I need for festival rangoli designs?
Four to six colours plus white is enough for most designs. Buy 100 g packs of each for a 60 cm design.
