A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing
compossed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. Rangoli also known as kolam or muggulu, is a
folk art from India in which patterns are created on the floor using materials
like rice floor, chawlk powder, white rock powder or kolam powder usually with
naturally/synthetically coloured powder.
More complex kolams are drawn and colours are often added during festive
occasions and special events. The
purpose of kolam or rangoli is decoration and the design depictions may also
vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each
area.
Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes,
deity impressions, or flower and petal shapes, but they can also be very
elaborate designs crafted by numerous people.
The base material is usually dry or wet powdered rice or dry flour, to
which sindoor(vermillion), haldi(turmeric) and other natural colours can be
added. Chemical colors are a modern
variation. Other materials include
coloured sand, red brick powder and even flowers and petals, as in case of
Pookalam of kerala.
Kolams are thought to bring prosperity to homes. Every
morning before sunrise, the floor of the house is cleaned with water and swept
well to create an even surface. In some
villages of Tamil Nadu, cow dung is mixed with water and waxed on the floor
which is believed to be a disinfectant and hence provides a lliteral threshold
of protection for the home. It also
gives a bright look to the kolam. Through
the day, the drawings get walked on, washed out in the rain, or blown around in
the wind, new ones are drawn the next day.
Kolams are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so the design
will hold better.
Decoration is not the only purpose of a kolam. In olden days, kolams were drawn in coarse
rice flour, so that the ants would not have a walk too faar or too long for a
meal. The rice powder also attracted
birds and other small creatures to eat it, thus welcoming other beings into
one’s home and everyday life. It is a
sign of invitation to welcome all into the home, along with Lakshmi, the
Goddess of prosperity and wealth. The
kolam patterns range from geometric and mathematical line drawings around a
matrix of dots to freehand art work and closed shapes. Folklore has evolved to mandate that the
lines must be completed so as to symbolically prevent evil spirit from entering
the inside of the shapes, and thus are they prevented from entering the inside
of the home.
In south
india, it is mostly practiced by female Hindu family members in front of their
houses. They are meant to be welcoming
areas for the Hindu deities keeping the art form and the tradition alive. The same practice is followed through out
India with different names: Kolam in Tamil Nadu, Muggulu in Andhra Pradesh,
Golam or Kalam in Kerala, Rangavalli in Karnataka, Raangolee in Maharashtra,
Mandana in Rajasthan, Chowk pujan in Uttar Pradesh, Aripana in Bihar, Alpana in
West Bengal, Chaookpurna in
Chhattisgarh and so on…
It used to be a matter of pride to be able to draw
large complicated patterns without lifting the hand off the floor or sitting 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.
In the kolam patterns, many designs are
derived from motifs and abstract designs blended with philosophic and religious
motifs which have been mingled together.
Motifs may include birds, fish, butterflies, and other animal images to
symbolize the unity of man and beast.
Also used are designs for the sun, moon and other zodiac symbols. The ritual kolam patterns created for special
occasions such as weddings often stretch all the way down the street. Many of these created patterns have been
passed on generation to generation, from grandmothers to mothers and mothers to
daughters. Volunteering to draw the kolam at temple is sometimes done when a
devotee’s wishes are fulfilled.
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