Sunday 15 January 2017

Perfect Circle!

My last kolam of 2016..
When I started, I had some other design in mind... 
With lots of errors and uncertainty, this is how it turned out to be !!!

Hope you liked it

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.


12 comments:

  1. So do you mean to say we should go forward even if there are lot of errors and uncertainties.

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    1. Yes... Because you never know... the errors and uncertainties might help you gain something more beautiful than you ever imagined!

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  2. I so want to learn this, could you write something about it here?

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    1. Sure... It's made of kolam/Rangoli powder... Slightly mixed with rice powder to get that bright white color... It's a free hand design... Made on flat surface (in the given case, courtyard of my house)... I could try uploading a video on this... Maybe I shall make one using pen and paper... But may not be possible as I make on courtyard cz there is no way I could take a video ... But I can surely make some simple ones for beginners... :) I am so delighted to see your interest!!!

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  3. Uncertainty has turned to certainty.Good.Nice design.

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  4. That is indeed an awesome Kolam. Keep it up! :)

    Destination Infinity

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