About Kolam

Goal of Swarna’s Kolam

1) Our goal is to preserve the art of kolam.
2) To provide step by step guide so as to make it easier for the younger generation to learn and draw.

What is Kolam?

Kolam is a form of painting that is drawn at the entrance of a house, temple or any other building. 

Kolams are regionally known by different names in India
• Raangolee in Maharashtra, 
• Hase and Raongoli in Karnataka,
• Muggulu in Andhra Pradesh,
• Golam in Kerala,
• Kolam in TamilNadu

South Indian kolam is all about symmetry, precision, and complexity, whereas Rangoli is extremely colourful and drawn without dots.

More complex kolams are drawn and colors are often added during holiday occasions and special events.

Medium Used

The following mediums are used to draw the kolam:

1) Dried rice flour is used for drawing kolams.
2) Dilute rice paste or even paints are also used for longevity.
3) Limestone and red brick powder are also used on special occasions.
4) Modern interpretations have accommodated chalk, and more recently readily made vinyl stickers.

Patterns

Kolam patterns can be drawn in different ways. Generally, the kolams based on dots can be drawn either by joining the dots by straight or cuvered lines or patterns can be created by drawing lines between and around the dots. 

Kolams are also used to simplify the representation of complex protein structures for easy understanding. 

Although there are numerous traditional kolams patterns and lot more can be created depending on the creativity of the person who draws it, it is not drawn like a picture. Patterns are created based on certain systems. Mostly the kolam patterns are created based on dots arranged in different types of grid patterns. However, many non-dot based kolam patterns also are available. 

In the kolam patterns, many designs are derived from magical motifs and abstract designs blended with philosophic and religious motifs which have been mingled together. Motifs may include fish, birds, and other animal images to symbolize the unity of man and beast. Also used are designs for the sun, moon and other zodiac symbols. Seasonal messages like welcome (நல்வரவு), Happy Diwali/Pongal, Nam Naadu can also be used in kolam. 

The patterns are often passed on from generation to generation, like from a mother to her daughter.

Everyday Kolam Ritual

Drawing kolam is practiced by women. 

Generally women get up early in the morning and clean the area just outside the entrances of their houses, sprinkle the area with water and draw the kolam by dropping the loose dried flour in a controlled way through their forefinger and the thumb. 

Benefits of Kolam

Kolam drawing has several social, spiritual and symbolic meanings attached to it. 

1) Those who practice this believe that drawing kolam purifies the entrance space and this in turn will invite the goddess of wealth Laxmi to enter the house. This they believe would give the inmates all wealth and prosperity.

2) Apart from being used for decoration, kolam serves other purposes also. One of the uses of kolam is to provide food to the ants. Since the designs are made with the help of coarse rice flour, they provide an easy as well as readily available source of food supply for the ants. At the same time, it is said that rice powder attracts birds and other small critters.

3) The mathematical properties of kolam are being used in the computer science field. Kolam patterns are studied and algorithms are developed for regenerating kolam designs with different patterns has been done.

4) Kolam icreases creativity of a person.

5) There is a special type of kolam which is known as the sikkal kolam. When the ladies practice more with the sikkal kolam it can be said that the ladies will be more capable of solving any type of problem that comes in their life.

6) Drawing Kolam everyday on the floor is considered to be one of the most important exercises for the ladies. It ensures a lot of sitting, standing and moving in patterns while drawing Kolams is a good exercise by sitting, standing and moving in patterns while making the kolam. A lot of ozone and thus oxygen-rich atmosphere is healthy if it is done outside the house early in the morning.

7) When ladies bent their body to draw Kolam, the back bone is also bent in such a way that strengthens the back bone and helps in keeping it healthy and fit. It is believed to be one of the yogasanas.

Pride

It used to be a matter of pride to be able to draw large complicated patterns without lifting the hand off the floor or standing up in between. 

The month of Margazhi was eagerly awaited by young women, who would then showcase their skills by covering the entire width of the road with one big kolam.