Pongal Kolam 2016

  

Presenting the first Kolam for the year…

I made this for Pongal…

The pots and sugarcanes here associates to Pongal festival…

Pongal is a festival celebrated by Tamilians across the world. Also called Thai Pongal, it falls on the first day of Tamil month Thai between January 15^th and February 15^th of the Georgian calendar. Pongal is celebrated to thank the Sun, eternal source of energy which is indispensable for agricultural activities. As a part of celebration, rice is boiled in pot and dedicated to the Sun. Further, various ingredients like milk, jiggery, ghee, cashew nuts, etc. are added to make a special dish named “Pongal”. If pepper and salt is used, it is called “Venn Pongal” (White Pongal).

Incidentally, on the same day, people in different parts of India celebrate the festival too under different names like Makara Sankranthi, Lohri, etc. 

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.