Alpana And Rangoli: Traditional Art Forms That Accelerate Cognitive Abilities In Students

As the Indian festival season approaches, let us understand the meaning of traditional decorative art forms such as rangoli and alpana. Did you know that these ancient art forms can help boost cognitive ability among students?

The two rituals — art forms where designs are made on the floor signalling auspicious celebrations have graced our homes and courtyards for ages. This beautiful tradition is also finding its way to offices, and schools where drawing a rangoli or alpana is practised as a creative way of building bonds with your peers.

So let us understand how this Diwali, you can encourage young students to try this art form which can aid in their overall development. Here’s how!

Knowledge of Geometric Shapes and Symmetry

The design of rangoli and alpana can be broken down into many geometric shapes drawn in a symmetry. Students gain the sense of shapes, and reproducing them in designs showing pattern recognition skills. Students must know that the design they choose for rangoli must fit into the space assigned to them. This hones their spatial awareness. It also sharpens mathematical skills, analysis of visual data and many other everyday skills.

Improved Concentration

The designs of rangoli and alpana are complex. The shapes are intertwined with each other. Such activities demand sustained focus and concentration of students. Further, it improves attention span and helps individuals stay engaged in the task at hand. High concentration levels in academic tasks, resulting in improved learning outcomes.

Brain Activity

The brain is highly active while making rangoli. Multiple areas of the human brain including the visual cortex, parietal lobe and frontal lobe are involved in the activity. These activated lobes make the student better in visual processing, motor coordination attention and problem-solving. This multiple brain activity boosts neuroplasticity i.e. capacity of the brain to rewire itself. Further, these abilities positively impact the student's academics and help them score better.

Psychological Benefits

Stress Buster

The art of creating a rangoli triggers the release of key neurotransmitters, including serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain. This neurochemical response contributes to improved mood and emotional stability. It also builds up positive behaviours, motivating students to engage in learning and exploration.

Art Therapy

Rangoli-making has found applications in therapy, where it is recognised as a form of art therapy. This therapeutic approach leverages the calming and creative aspects of rangoli to support emotional well-being and personal expression. Such therapies help people to find solutions to their problems through creativity.

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Motor Skills

Hand-Eye Coordination

Intricate designs require precise hand movements. These activities challenge students to manage their hand movements in tandem with their visual awareness, which improves fine motor abilities. These help students to perform better in sports activities and academic performance. It also reduces the risk of kids getting hurt as they can better react to situations when they are about to trip.

Control Of Body and Thoughts

Rangoli demands the students to be fully present and the moment will make rangoli or alpana. They also have to be aware of their hand movements moving them precisely. This control of mind and body makes them more mindful and reduces the restlessness in them. Mindfulness keeps the mind of the student stable. This in turn helps them to focus on their scholastic and non -non-scholastic activities.

Emotional Growth

Alpana and rangoli allow students to express themselves creatively. Students can convey their thoughts and feelings through the patterns and colours they choose for the floor art. Rangoli and Alpana are art forms that demand patience. This builds up the value of persistence and dedication in students. Refining a creative art form boosts the self-esteem of students making them confident about their skills. Even after persistence and dedication mistakes while making an art form are normal. Students in this process learn how to correct their mistakes, and move forward with their design. This develops the ability to cope with errors and take corrective measures accordingly.

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Cultural Appreciation

Practising the art of making rangoli and alpana brings the student closer to Indian culture. Rangoli and alpana since ages have been made outside the entrance of houses as a symbol of prosperity and good luck. These art forms are a vital part of festivals like Diwali, Onam and Pongal. If students engage in these activities, they can keep these traditions alive even for the coming generations.

Helps in Writing Skills

Rangoli and other floor arts can aid the learning process of preschoolers. They can dip their fingers in colour or rice flour paste and draw shapes. Children actively develop fundamental cognitive abilities as they draw forms with their fingers. This hands-on investigation improves students' comprehension of letter and form creation while keeping the learning entertaining and engaging. They know how their hand will move while writing. This makes the stage of introduction to paper and pencil much easier. Students of that age also develop the sensation of smell while playing with coloured powder and flower petals.

These arts provide a sensory-rich experience that involves touch, sight, sound, and scent. This promotes creativity and fine motor abilities. Students should actively participate in these activities. These art forms benefit the lives of individuals and communities by keeping a traditional cultural practice alive. It also acts as a therapeutic and creative endeavour.

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