Rangoli is an art form, originating in the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or the ground using quartz powder materials such as colored rice, colored sand or flower petals. It is usually made during Diwali or Tihar, Onam, Pongal and other Hindu festivals in the Indian subcontinent. Designs are passed from one generation to the next, keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. Many traditionalists also believe that drawing of rangolis on the floor near the main doorway of the house warded off evil spirits.