Dubai : Dubai has taken the art of rangoli to a whole new level this Diwali, replacing the colours and flower petals traditionally used for the festive decoration with 6.5 kg of gold and diamond jewellery.
The unusual installation was recently unveiled at City Centre Deira, with Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia attending the event. Jewellery brand Damas created the display in collaboration with Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) as part of the mall’s Diwali celebrations.
City Centre Deira posted a video of the installation on Instagram with the Hindi caption, “Thodi si chamak, dher saara jaadu!” (A little sparkle, a lot of magic).
The accompanying message described the creation as a beautiful rangoli decorated with gold, diamonds and pearls, adding that it was a sight to behold. The mall also extended Diwali greetings, wishing people a festival filled with light, beauty and happiness.
Spanning 2 metres by 2 metres, the Golden Rangoli brings together 213 jewellery pieces from Damas’ Rangoli, Legacy and Ananya collections. Necklaces, bangles, earrings and pendants were arranged to form the intricate design.
A team of 10 people worked for 16 hours to put the installation together, placing each ornament by hand to complete the elaborate pattern.
The display has also caught the attention of social media users. One Instagram user commented, “Beautiful exquisite – can happen only in UAE.” Another wrote, “I lost my breath. Exquisite.”
“Now I understand the meaning of Rangoli,” a third user remarked, while another joked, “It’s safe to put it in a mall cuz it’s Dubai.”
The festive shopping season has also brought a gold giveaway across Dubai.
More than 180 jewellery stores have joined the promotion, under which purchases worth 1,500 dirhams or more qualify customers for draws to win a share of 1 kg of gold.
The campaign continues until Thursday, November 12.
Diwali offers extend to shopping malls, restaurants and hotels, with retailers rolling out seasonal discounts and dining venues preparing special festive menus.
