Rangoli Maker

Rangoli Maker — how to play and tips

Rangoli is the colourful pattern that is drawn on the floor at the entrance of Indian homes, especially during festivals such as Diwali, Onam, Pongal and Navratri. Families make it with rice flour, coloured powder, flower petals or chalk, to welcome guests and, according to tradition, to invite good fortune. This game is a relaxing digital rangoli: you draw one small shape with your finger, and the game repeats it around the centre to make a beautiful pattern.

How to play

• Touch the drawing area and move your finger. Whatever you draw is repeated automatically in a circle. Draw one petal and you get a whole flower.

• Choose a colour from the colour dots. These are festival shades: pink, marigold orange, yellow, green, turquoise, violet and white.

• Press the fold button to cycle between 6, 8, 12 and 16 copies. More folds make a finer, more intricate mandala.

• Turn the mirror on or off. With the mirror on, every stroke is also reflected, which gives the pattern the neat, symmetrical look of traditional kolam and rangoli designs.

• Change the brush size, switch the background between three festive night colours, undo your last stroke or clear everything and start fresh.

Save and share your art

When you like what you made, press Save to download a clean picture of your rangoli to your device. On a phone, Share opens the share sheet so that you can send it directly to family and friends by message or on social media. The picture is made on your own device, and we do not upload your drawing anywhere. Your last design is also remembered inside your browser, so you can close the page and continue later.

Ideas to try

• The classic flower: use 8 folds with the mirror on, and draw a simple curve from the centre outwards. Change colours and draw a smaller curve inside it.

• Diya border: use 12 folds and draw tiny dots near the edge of the circle in marigold and yellow, like a ring of lamps.

• A fine mandala: use 16 folds with a thin brush and repeat small zigzags in turquoise and white.

• A festive greeting: draw a design, save it, and send it with your wishes to someone far from home.

Why symmetry feels good

Patterns with repeated shapes are calming for the eye, which is one reason mandalas and rangoli have been drawn for centuries. Drawing slowly and watching a pattern grow can be a relaxing way to take a break, and children enjoy it because every stroke produces something surprising. There are no points to chase, no timer and no way to lose. The score at the top simply counts your strokes.

The game works with a finger on a phone or tablet and with a mouse on a computer. It is free, needs no download and has no purchases. All the colours, patterns and code are our own work, and this page is a small tribute to a beautiful tradition.