"The mandala style rangoli and kolam floor art designs often start with the circle or grow circularly with flowers, twigs and petals. Such floor art is supposed to attract positive energies of therapeutic value," says awardee Dr Lalit Kishore - Jaipur-based researcher and educator Dr Lalit Kishore - whose related work has got recognized by the "Show Your Talent (SYT) International Group" administered by renowned artist Anagha Deshpande Vyas since 2018 that recognizes and awards contributors for various art and craft forms which are low-cost.
Work of Dr Kishore won the award on February 2021, (see inset collage). The artwork was as a part his own practice for its non-art use for special kids to develop motor skills, coordination skills, sensory perceptions, attentiveness and visual intelligence.
A mandala stands for a circular or discoid object based geometric design and is deemed as standalone work of art which has spiritual, meditative and religious symbolism in many cultures of the East, specially in Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
In Buddhism, mandala designs are used for mind-focusing, meditation, prayer, healing and art therapy. Some expressive art therapists have used drawing and meditative interventionist use of simple mandalas for both adults and children. It is also held that when mandalas are used used as therapy, they improve visual and spiritual intelligence. They can help in bring about calmness, gaining mental balance, bringing peace and causing tranquility.
It has also been reported that use of mandalas as art therapy have the potential to improve immune system, enhance sensory perceptions, increase attentiveness, reduce stress and pain. Some clinical studies also suggested that when used used as art therapy, designed mandalas as procedure-bound therapy lowers blood pressure, promotes sleep and eases out depression.
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