Rangoli maker
Every line you draw repeats around the centre, so one wobbly stroke becomes a rangoli. Press Grow and the toy draws kolam loops around the dots for you.
Draw with a finger or a mouse. Every line repeats around the centre, or press Grow.
For the curious
16randomGrow walks closed loops around the dots, the way a kolam is drawn, and repeats each loop 8 times, mirrored. The same seed grows the same pattern.
What is the Rangoli maker?
A free online rangoli maker. You draw on a dark floor with a dot grid, and every line you make is repeated around the centre, 4, 6, 8, 12 or 16 times, mirrored if you like, so a single stroke turns into a symmetrical pattern. Press Grow and the toy draws kolam loops around the dots for you, the way the real ones are drawn in rice flour at a doorstep. Pick rice flour, turmeric, kumkum, marigold, indigo or festival colours, then save the picture. No download, no sign-up, and it works on a phone.
How to make a rangoli
- 01
Draw
Drag a finger or mouse across the floor. The line repeats around the centre as you draw, so start near the middle and work outwards.
- 02
Or grow
Press Grow a pattern and a kolam loop is drawn around the dots. Press it again for another layer. Undo removes the last one.
- 03
Keep it
Choose colours and symmetry on the panel, then Save my rangoli for a picture, Copy link to share this exact setup, or Embed to put it on your own page.
Four to start with
Each one opens the maker with a pattern already grown. Draw on top of it, or clear it and start your own.
Where the patterns come from
Rangoli is drawn at the threshold of homes across India for Diwali, Pongal, Onam and weddings: coloured powder, flower petals or rice flour laid down in a symmetrical design to welcome guests and good fortune. The kolam of Tamil Nadu is the version drawn every morning, a single unbroken line looping around a grid of dots. The toy's Grow button follows the same rule, walking closed loops around the dots so the line never crosses itself.
It comes from Monal Digital, a kids' animation company from the Himalayan foothills, and sits beside the Creature Maker and the other free toys.
Questions
Is the rangoli maker free?
Yes. There is nothing to buy, no account and no advertising. It runs in the browser on a phone, a tablet or a computer.
What is the difference between a rangoli and a kolam?
Both are floor patterns drawn at the doorstep. Kolam, from Tamil Nadu, is drawn in rice flour as loops around a grid of dots. Rangoli, across the rest of India, is usually coloured powder in a symmetrical design. This toy does both: draw freely for a rangoli, or press Grow for kolam loops around the dots.
Can I print it?
Yes. "Save my rangoli" downloads a picture at full resolution. Print it, or use it as a guide for the real thing on Diwali morning.
Is it safe for children?
Yes. It collects nothing, shows no ads and has no chat. The only things it makes are pictures.
Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. Press Embed to put it on a class website. Symmetry, rotation and reflection are all on the screen, and the 'For the curious' panel shows how many copies of each stroke are drawn.