WELSH animation studio Winding Snake Productions will celebrate 70 years of Indian independence by launching its latest program at Small World Theatre, Cardigan.

The studio will welcome special guest Mrs Rajni Kiran Jha from Delhi to Cardiff to launch the scheme, with events in Cardigan and Newport, where members of the public are invited to learn about Rangoli.

Rangoli, or kollam, is an Indian decorative art form traditionally designed and created by women. It is a practice handed down from generation to generation.

Mrs. Mangalam Swaminathan of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and Culture in Delhi, said: "Rangoli it has a vital social function in the maintenance of women's friendships.”

Mrs Swaminathan added when she was growing up, women in her community would gather water together every day and talk about their lives. She would help her mother create Rangoli, and then they would go to a friend's house to help them decorate their home with Rangoli.

“Now that women no longer need to go to the river to get water, creating Rangoli is the only time in the day to socialise with other women and talk about things, and even that's disappearing,” she said.

“Not everyone has time to make Rangoli every day anymore. In the cities now a lot of women use Rangoli stickers instead. That sense of community space is disappearing all over India."

Winding Snake Productions is led by Amy Morris and Mrs Swaminathan's thoughts on women's friendship and community struck a chord with her.

She said: “In my lifetime the nature of friendship has changed, and while global connection has progressed and is brilliant, I don’t know what the women who lives across the street from me is called.”

During the project, artists and animators from Wales and India will explore the relationship between Rangoli folk art and women's friendships, and introduce and celebrate the practice of Rangoli making with women and girls in Wales.

The work created by professional artists at community events will be made into a series of animated short films, Visit www.artthatbinds.org after the launch to find out more about the project as it progresses.

The official project launch will be celebrated on August 15 with participants creating a giant Rangoli and live music performed by Indo-Celtic musicians, doors will be open from 6pm. For more information, please visit smallworld.org.uk.