Rangoli is the tradition of drawing auspicious patterns — geometric designs, lotuses, peacocks, footprints of Lakshmi — at the entrance of homes and temples, especially during Diwali, Onam, Pongal, and weddings. It is known by different names across India: kolam in Tamil Nadu (drawn daily at dawn with rice flour), muggulu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, alpana in Bengal, mandana in Rajasthan, and chowk purana in parts of North India. Beyond decoration, rangoli marks the threshold as welcoming to deities and guests, and rice-flour designs traditionally also feed ants and birds, reflecting the ethic of sharing with all creatures. Designs range from simple dots-and-lines grids to elaborate multi-day festival compositions.