Jain Spirit 1999 10 No 02

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 34

Art with detachment
invented floating rangolis, painted on water surfaces and equipment which make it easier to paint rangolis.
The pictures here show a Jain Darshan' rangoli which was done for the Nairobi Oshwal ahila Mandal (Ladies Wing) in 1994. Thousands of people came to watch this massive 22 X 22 feet work of art, and a team of ten people worked five long days to make it happen. We asked her how she felt when she knew that it would all be swept away at the end. Pushpaben replied: "The greatest pleasure of rangoli is in the doing. It is a form of meditation which provides me with intense pleasure, joy and inner peace. It is a form of yoga, and a deep meditation in colour - a form of colour therapy. In fact, at the end, I always feel refreshed rather than tired, as if the act of doing it has given me deep strength and energy. A display rangoli is a very positive expression of teamwork and the community spirit."
Mrs. Pushpa Haria demonstrating a rangoli significant devotion and self-sacrifice. I start to play with the theme even six months ahead of the activities, the events, the people. I will then sit with my close colleagues from the Rang Rekha group and we will further develop the ideas and start putting them on paper. That is when the real work starts. We will spend about two months gathering the pigments in the approximate quantities and preparing the right tones - putting the team together, practising some of the intricate parts, especially the faces, eyes and other features that can make or spoil a rangoli. In addition, we have all the wonderful volunteers who help during the making of the rangoli, preparing tea and snacks, serving, picking up members, and do all the general running around."
"One must also remember that in its freshness underlies a special attraction. People who come to view it know full well that it is going to be swept away, so they make special time to do so. We also know what happens when we have fixed art, which requires regular maintenance and security, and space for display, all of which are very costly. With rangoli art, these costs are significantly reduced, and the art is always fresh and immediate. To me that is its special joy, and I would love to do a special rangoli for Jain Spirit. We visited Pushpaben during her recent visit to London, and her sistersin-law were also actively involved in promoting her art. They have produced a beautiful instructive two-hour video cassette which explains and demonstrates this art. It is in Gujarati with English subtitles and can be ordered from jayaar@globalnet.co.uk at a very reasonable price. Colouring kits and tools are also available from this address. 2
"How do you feel when in less than the days it took to create the rangoli, it is swept away?"
CREATE YOUR OWN RANGOLI
1. Choose a simple design and choose the appropriate colours.
Vibha: "Well people always tell me to look away and not be present when the rangoli is being removed. My joy, satisfaction, is in creating the rangoli. No one can take that away from me. The fact that it has been a thought-provoking experience for the hundreds who saw the display is deeply satisfying. In fact, I am not at all remorseful about the rangoli being cleared. It has made room for another rangoli hasn't it?". A few years ago, she was the leader of a team from Kenya which made a large display rangoli on the inter-faith theme with paintings of all the major religions, at the Oshwal Centre in London. This attracted thousands of visitors.
2. You will need the following basic ingredients: A hard board of size 30 X 30 cm; Pencil/Chalk: Ruler; Spoons: Small funnel, with a very thin spout; sieve;
3. For even spreading, make a small cone or tube, and at the tip place a thin sleve/gauze. This will help considerably in even spreading of colours and minimise wastage. A stiff paper cone is ideal for margins, dots and borders.
4. Buy rangoli colours from Indian shops or from India. Alternatively, make them yourself.
5. Spread the colours by hand, tube or cone as necessary to make your rangoli.
Another well-known proponent of large display rangolis, Mrs Pushpa Gulab Haria, has even made a video on rangoli art. She has exhibited her art in various parts of East Africa, Britain, Portugal and Canada. In 1994, her work was a key attraction at the 'Rhythms of India' festival in Canada. She has won widespread praise for her work, and when we met her, she was full of energy and passion about her art. She has done 20 X 20 feet display rangolis on themes ranging from Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, to Jain themes such as the birth of Lord Mahavir and Trishala matas 14 dreams. These works take up to ten days to complete, and Pushpaben and her teamwould work 18 hours a day to finish them. Mrs. Haria has also
TEACH YOURSELF RANGOLI VIDEO and KIT AVAILABLE FROM JAYAAR@GLOBALNET.CO.UK
Mrs. Pushpa Haria can be contacted on simtec@net2000ke.com Mrs. Vibha Arun Shah can be contacted at PO Box 81618, Mombasa, Kenya. Tel: 254 11 220 248
October - December 1999. Jain Spirit 33