Tuesday 13 September 2016

Happy Onam 2016 (Part I)



I stumbled upon this snap recently…
A Pookkalam that I had made for Onam 2011
An unbelievable 4 years before…
So I just thought of sharing this with you…
After all, it brought a smile in my face…
Brought back the memories of those times J
Happy Onam people!!!

PS: Because many people asked me what a Kolam is…
Kolam refers to intricate patterns drawn both free handedly and by joining dots. These can be widely seen in the Southern part of India. Women draw this early morning, preferably before Sunrise after cleaning the courtyard. Earlier rice powder was used – it was a means to feed ants and small insects. However, these days, stone powder and even chalk is used. If such powders are used, it is called Pudi Kolam. Sometimes, brick powder will be used as outline on auspicious days, Tuesdays and Fridays. If rice powder is mixed in water and similar patterns are drawn, it is called Maavu/Maa Kolam. In West Bengal, it is called Alpona. In North India, people used rice/stone powders for the outline and fill the patterns with colors. This is called Rangoli.

It is believed that Kolam brings prosperity. It is drawn for almost all the auspicious occasions like marriages and festivals. When someone dies in the household, the family don’t draw any kolam for a year.  

Children in small towns learn the art of making kolam at a very young age. In fact, a girl who knows to draw impeccable and intricate kolam is a pride for the entire family and the village she stays. However, owing to modernization, city life and apartment culture, this art is soon dying.


13 comments:

  1. May this Onam bring you all joy and happiness

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  2. Liked you simple pookkalam! Looking back into such colorful moments is cheerful :)

    Happy Onam

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  5. I was stuck in the households.So my mind didn't rise up to the festivity till the eleventh hour.This design is interesting, but it seems Kolam.Is it pookkalam. Those two comments deleted because interesting somehow became intriguing and that too two times.When I looked back I understood

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  6. Happy Onam 2016 i had just Watch Full Movie on YouTube where i found Onam festival really amazing. thanks for sharing this amazing post...!

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