I’ve been thinking about sand mandalas and rangolis (there are many other names for those, that’s the name I learned while travelling in Karnataka)… Both are beautiful, ephemeral drawings made with coloured sand (and for rangolis, flowers too). What are Rangolis and Sand Mandalas? For those who don’t know, sand mandalas are a meditation practice of Tibetan Buddhism (that follows a strict ritual procedure); rangolis are drawings made on the threshold of homes or home shrines and they have many symbolic meanings, one being keeping the evil eye at bay and welcoming gods (and people) into the household. So, though the rituals and meanings change a little between the two, I see a connection. And there are many aspects of both that I find interesting: For me, it’s about the time-old philosophy that the journey is more important than the destination. It is a material way of sharing this knowledge. And it also teaches us the importance of doing whatever task we undertake with dignity and patience and love. Trying to be at our best for the pleasure of it, not because we will be socially rewarded. Rangolis are also done as a daily morning household ritual. It’s beautiful having […]