The Desert Blanc of Egypt

The White Desert National Park, also known as Désert Blanc, is a national park located in the North of Egypt. It was first established as a protected area in 2002 and stretches over 300 square kilometres West of the Farafra Oasis between the Nile Delta Valley and the Libyan border. It is renowned for its white sands, white sand rock formations, and its part in the Great Sand Sea. The park also acts as home to a diverse array of animals including fennec fox, Rüppell’s fox, red fox, barbary sheep, sand cats and the endangered Rhim gazelle.

The Origin of this spectacular desert dates back 60 million years, when, according to archaeological research, the area was a shallow seabed that extended through what is now Nubia. At the start, the seabed was covered with a layer of sandstone that formed the sedimentary rocks for millions of years. As time went by, the sedimentary rocks formed a stratum that was 300m deep. Then the Atlantic waters retreated, and the plateau broke down, giving birth to The White Desert.

But the history of Désert Blanc does not end there. According to legends told by the Tuaregs, somewhere in the desert is buried the lost army of Cambyses. The army was made up of 50,000 Persian soldiers and it is said they died from a massive sandstorm and Harmattan, a dry, parching wind. Nature took its course and buried them alive under the sands somewhere in the desert. This is a legend that enchants tourists and still leaves mystery to this day.

The iconic pillars, roughly 3-4.5 metres tall, that dot the landscape have been formed by centuries of erosion due to great sandstorms that sweep the desert. Some of them resemble foods and have been given names like Ice-cream cone and Mushroom, whereas others have inspired more imposing names like Inselberg and The Monolith. The most iconic of all the formations is the Chicken and the tree also known as Chicken and mushroom or Chicken and atomic bomb. These formations are unique to the desert and are certainly a sight worth seeing. “These are natural sculptures that greet visitors wherever they go in the desert and show that the work of nature is always more perfect than that of man.”, said Ahmed Salama, an official at the Egyptian Ministry of the Environment. I feel like his words harmoniously sum up the magnificence of these breath-taking objects.

Approximately 70,000 tourists visit the White Desert every year, making it one of the greatest attractions in Egypt besides the Sphinx and the Pyramids. There are roughly 20 hotels near the desert but perhaps the most popular form of accommodation is camping in the desert itself. This allows the visitors to enjoy the spectacle that overcomes the desert when the sun sets and the moon rises, giving the sands and chalk an eerie splendour.

Visitors hire local Bedouins as tour guides. The Bedouins earn a living cooking, setting up tents, selling drinks and imparting their knowledge onto their guests. They are the oldest Arabian ethnic group and have lived in the Farafra town in the desert for generations. The White Desert also boasts several natural hot springs, including salt-water springs, as well as ancient tombs, carvings and caves left by the Romans.

However, there are even grander sights to be seen in, for example, the Black Desert. It is a volcanic landscape with dark tones shaped in cone-like figures. The sand that forms these cones is covered with very fine layers of black stone resulting from intense volcanic activity during ancient times. Viewing this landscape from a vantage point, you will be able to appreciate the great beauty of it.

One of the most popular attractions is certainly the Crystal Mountain. The Mountain is a small arch of metamorphic limestone rock that shines brightly and glistens in the sun. Unlike the name suggests, these are not crystals. Rather it is an extraordinary rock formation that looks like crystals. Geologists consider it to be an exhumed cave, a cave complete with stalagmites and stalactites, that has been thrust upwards by earth movement and, with time, has lost its roof to erosion and almost weathered away.

Désert Blanc is not only a place but also an experience. Visitors have described it as “being like a trip to heaven” due to the mesmerising pearly white landscape. It is certainly one of Egypt’s greatest attractions and a worthwhile visit for all who are able to go. The desert is like a moment frozen in time. Not affected by modern day culture and urbanisation, it is a breath of fresh air and a place of true natural beauty, the only changes arising from the effects of the sands of time.

Traditionally, rangoli is an everyday art of decoration using chalk that originated in India drawn on the entrances of homes. The word, rangoli, comes from the Sanskrit word, rangaavali, which is made up from two words: rang, meaning colour, and aavali, meaning creepers or lines, so the literal translation is “coloured lines”.

The most important element of rangoli patterns is their bright colour. The usage of vibrant colours is associated with Hindu festivals, marriage celebrations, auspicious observances and other important milestones and gatherings. Rangoli patterns are often symmetrical and are made up of simple, geometric shapes. They combine straight and curved lines with images taken from nature. The symmetry of these designs is a symbol of prosperity, growth, and good fortune. The designs used are passed down from one generation to the next in order to keep the art form and tradition alive. Each design varies as they are unique to each area or family, reflecting different traditions, folklore, and practices.

The major symbols used in Hindu rangoli patterns include lotus flowers, birds, and foliage. There are more specific designs for special occasions. For example, at Diwali, rangoli designs comprise of Hindu deities (Ganesh and Lakshmi), peacocks and round floral shapes. As these motifs are traditional to India, rangoli symbolises India’s rich heritage and that it is a place of festivals and colour.

Rangoli is a sand mandala. The word “mandala” in Sanskrit translates as “circle” or “centre”. A mandala is an object of meditation to aid someone with spiritual development. The Hindu tradition focuses on the realisation of the self as one with the divine. The design of a mandala is a geometric pattern. It represents the cosmos metaphysically and symbolically. Mandalas refer to the wholeness of life itself. They act as cosmic diagrams that show the relation to infinity and the world that goes beyond to one’s own mind and body. Mandalas can also be interpreted as symbolic of a spiritual journey through the layers of the rangoli pattern.

The materials used to make rangoli can be found anywhere easily. This makes rangoli an art prevalent in all homes, both rich and poor. Typically, the main ingredients are chalk, sand, flower petals and rice. Cereal powders like powdered quartz and dried rice flour, which are some of the raw materials used to make rangoli patterns, attract insects and so stop them from entering households. Historically, rangoli discouraged insects and pathogens from coming near cooking areas so provided a way to be more hygienic. Therefore, rangoli patterns are not only for decoration but also have a more practical purpose.

Rangoli patterns are placed at the main entrance of a house to welcome guests and the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, inside and to bring good luck to the family living there. It is believed that a Hindu household without a clean entrance and rangoli is an abode for bad luck, daridra in Sanskrit. Rangoli represent happiness, positivity, and liveliness of a household.

Rangoli is an important, everyday practice for Hindus and holds a significant role in the life of a Hindu household. The posture needed when making a rangoli acts as a type of exercise and aids people to straighten their backs. Therefore, not only do rangolis have a spiritual, cultural, cosmic, and decorative purpose, but they are also useful for simpler, day-to-day uses like as exercise and to be more hygienic.