Margazhi kolam

Rangoli on Peepal leaves – Leaves of Ficus religiosa These spiritual muggulu on peepal leaves were created by Mr. Sanjiva Narasimha Appadoo Head of Telugu Studies Department Republic of Mauritius The peepal leaves are broad, heart-shaped and have thin elongated tails, which gives them an elegant appearance. The botanical name for Peepal is Ficus religiosa (Ficus is the latin word for ‘Figs’ and ‘religiosa’ means the religion). The Peepal trees are considered sacred in the hindu and the buddhist religion, and so are also grown in the temples. They have a fine network of veins that are prominently visible. The tissues between the veins disintegrate easily when exposed to water for a longer period of time. Artists use the skeletal remains of the leaves as a canvas for small pieces of artwork.