India, Oct. 20 -- A ll-white or a burst of colours, freehand or intricately stencilled, it's that time of the year when families across India pull out their stash of rangoli powders to deck up doorsteps. Spending hours bent over the floor, sifting through ambitious designs and perfecting those symmetrical swirls feels almost like a Diwali rite of passage. But this year, there's a twist, the art of rangoli-making is quietly being outsourced. "The shift from doing it yourself to hiring rangoli artists is being led by millennials who are nostalgic about their grandmother's designs but don't have the time," says Rajni Dutta, director of Rajni Dutta Art. She adds, "With their disposable incomes, they now prefer recreating that emotion through professionals." Echoing the sentiment, rangoli artist and designer Meenu Khanna adds, "For weddings, functions, or festivities, rangolis bring people together, they bring happiness, and of course, they invite Lakshmi ji home!" The festive and wedding seasons bring the biggest surge for this micro-market. "In Delhi-NCR, demand peaks around Diwali and the year-end wedding season. We're often booked months in advance," says Rajni, adding, "There's steady work through the year too, corporate pujas, housewarming ceremonies, many clients return regularly." Commissioned rangolis can cost anywhere between Rs.800 and Rs.20,000, depending on the size, intricacy and timing. "Expect a price spike during Diwali," Meenu notes, adding that smaller events like graha pravesh or birthdays are usually more budget-friendly. Rajni elaborates, "Our rates range from Rs.500 to Rs.1,650 per sq ft, depending on design complexity and deadlines. Clients also bear logistics costs." And it's not just homes or hotels, even student elections are getting a colourful twist. "Sometimes, election promotions can go overboard or offend people, but using rangoli gave us a positive way to campaign," says Pranav Bhatt, a second-year student who contested the DUSU polls from ABVP....