The festival of Lights Diwali is just three days away and many families have now started making "Rangoli" meaning drawings using different colours to attract the Goddess of Wealth - Latchmi and bring prosperity into their lives.

The Priest of Latchmi Narayan Temple in Toorak, Yogendra Shastri said that Rangoli is traditional Indian art, used as a medium of decoration for the home that also has a religious significance.

He said this work of art enhances the beauty of the surroundings and spreads joy, happiness and peace all around.

He said flowers, coloured rice and lentils, leaves and synthetic dyes are used to draw these designs, and while some drawings takes 20 minutes other complex ones can take hours to complete.

Shastri said that Rangoli is considered very auspicious, not only during Diwali but during all the other Hindu festivals.