Rangoli Competition: Virtual Literary Festival 2020

 

What is rangoli ?

In India, the name Rangoli symbolizes Beauty, Hope, and Tradition. 

Imagination is the spark that ignites the fire of creativity in rangoli.

Rangoli, also referred to as ‘Sand Mandala’, has various names throughout India: Kolam, Alpana, Muggulu, and Rangavalli.  Rangoli is meant for the moment or the occasion.

Rangoli is a traditional form that brightens up an occasion and is believed to be a harbinger of good luck. Beautiful patterns are created on the floor using coloured rice, flowers, coloured sand or paints. Keeping up with this thought,the talent and creativity. 

History of Rangoli:-

Lopamudra was the wife of a sage called Augustya Rishi. She also wrote 2 portions of the Rigveda (famous holy books). She and her husband lived in a remote place, away from others. People would describe them as hermits. Lopamudra wanted to help her husband in worshipping the gods, so she started to make rangoli, a decoration for the Yagyakunda. 

Yagyakunda is what we call a place of worship. Lopamudra asked the Panchatatva (the five elements – sky, wind, water, earth, fire) to give her colours to please her husband. She was able to collect blue from sky, green from water, black from soil, red from fire and white from wind. She then added these colours to the rangoli (made from ground rice, lentils, flowers and spices) which is why they look so beautiful today.

Snapshot of Rangoli Competition, Virtual Literary Festival 2020 organised by Department of English, M.K.B.U.

Essay: An Encounter with an Alien

 

An Encounter with an Alien 

There was a knock on my door; I woke up to see before me a strange looking boy, with two antenna-like objects sticking out of his head over a hairy body. His owl-like round eyes resembled the characters I had just seen from Mars. I screamed in fright, but he said something in an alien language and gesticulated with his hands, indicating that he meant no harm. I stared at him in disbelief, unable to even scream.

Sensing that I was frightened, he gave me a translator to put on my ears that would allow me to understand his language. I learnt that he indeed had come from Mars. He wanted to take me to his friends and show me his planet. He extended his thin wiry like hand in friendship. Though he sounded friendly, I was scared because I knew not what would offend him.

He talked about life on Mars, telling me that it is much bigger than our planet earth, having its own solar system. They do not eat, for they survive on noble gases that are in abundance. I politely requested him to let me sleep, for I had to wake up early to attend school.

He reacted with alacrity. Snatching the translator from my hand, he pointed his gun at me and in a flash I was in flames . I screamed with all my might “Help, Help, this boy from Mars has killed me.” I suddenly felt a splash of cold water on my face. Opening my eyes I saw and realised that it was all but a dream.

Thank you.....