In Rajasthan Geru (Red clay) and white colour (chalk) is used for making:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
Mandana is the traditional folk art of wall and floor painting predominantly practiced by women in Rajasthan, particularly among the Meena community, and is renowned for the specific materials used. The characteristic red background of Mandana is achieved by preparing the surface with a paste of cow dung mixed with *Geru* (red clay) or a similar pigment like *Rati* (local red earth). The intricate geometric, floral, and figural designs are then drawn upon this deep red base using a solution of white chalk powder, locally known as *Khariya*. This dual-color scheme—red clay forming the background and white chalk forming the motif—is the defining feature of the Rajasthani Mandana style, which is created to welcome deities, mark festivals, and ensure prosperity.

The incorrect option is 1:
Alpana (or Alpona) is a ritualistic floor art that is primarily associated with the **Bengal** region (West Bengal and Bangladesh), making it geographically distinct from Rajasthan. The principal material traditionally used in Alpana is a liquid paste made from soaked and ground *Aatop Chaal* (unboiled rice), which results in a purely white design on a clean or prepared surface. Although contemporary artists sometimes introduce color, the core, traditional practice of Alpana does not rely on the *Geru* (red clay) background that is fundamental to the Mandana of Rajasthan. Therefore, while it is a form of folk painting, it belongs to a different regional tradition with different primary materials.

The incorrect option is 2:
Chowk Purna is a term for ritual floor art that is mostly prevalent in parts of **Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Central India**. The term often refers specifically to drawing a sacred, usually square or rectangular, diagrammatic space (*Chowk*) for a ritualistic purpose. While the designs are typically drawn with white flour or chalk/limestone powder, the term itself is not the specific, defining name for the folk painting tradition in Rajasthan that uses a *Geru* (red clay) wash as its compulsory base. Chowk Purna is stylistically and geographically distinct in its specific application for ceremonial seating or worship space layouts.

The incorrect option is 3:
Rangoli is a very broad, generic term for floor art across India, but it is most closely associated with the traditions of **Maharashtra** and South India (where it is often called *Kolam*). The key material difference is that Rangoli typically involves the use of **dry** colored powders, granules, or colored sand to create the motifs, which are laid down on the floor. This technique contrasts sharply with the wet-application method of Mandana, where a red *Geru* clay layer is first applied as a wet base, and the white chalk is then painted on top, making the material composition and execution distinct from the Rajasthani *Geru*-based art.