Working with Rangavalli Patterns

Rangavalli patterns are found in many parts of India. They are patterns created early in the morning on the front step of the home. They help to protect the home from evil luck. The patterns are made with grains trailed on the floor from the open hand.

Activity 1

Look at pattern and pick out the different “loops” that are used in the pattern. To make it a little easier they have been coloured. Now try and copy the pattern on to the grid.

Click here for a page you can copy with the grids printed out.

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Activity 2

How many loops are used in these patterns? Trace them with your finger then try to recreate some of the patterns on the empty grids.

Activity 3

The patterns we just drew were continuous patterns made on a five by five grid. Now we will try and make single loop patterns on a 3 by 3 grid. One has been done for you. Now try and see if you can create your own.

Note

Patterns taken from Srirams New Rangavalli, Shanti Book Centre, Nampally, Hyderabad.

Each of the patterns can be classified by the number of loops and the order of symmetry. The one above has 4 lines of symmetry.

Patterns on 3 by 3 grid

To investigate any pattern mathematically it helps to look first at simple forms.

Here are some patterns made using several loops on the 3 by 3 grid:

Let us restrict ourselves to one loop.

Here are two examples of possible patterns made with one continuous line and looping all the dots:

Challenge! Can you find some more? Click here for a page of grids.

To see other solutions click here.