Kolam - an Unique Floor Decoration of Tamil Nadu

Inside a Tamil home, Kolam identified the design lodges wealth and success. Kolam could connected to the environment, the celebrities or special festivities, but they are first a willful offering to the Earth. Kolam is recognized as a focal artistic display of Tamil Nadu. The Kolam could possibly be called a most essential part of Tamil culture.

Kolam comprised by women either side of the streets. The KOLAM present a visual opinion exclusive and commendable to a foreigner keen to learn the etiquette and customs of the people of the country. Such a creative design, and incontrovertibly points out the artistic flavor of the Tamils.

The traditional solution to drawing these Kolam patterns is by letting the fine rice flour slip from between the fingers of the right hand together on a newly cleaned surface. It appears shallow, but also in real practice it is a method not slick to master as fine lines of the rice powder is compulsory to draw the Kolam pattern so it appears like beautiful art!

Elderly women of the older generation had many practice by drawing daily, describing on from simple patterns to complicated ones. Kolam designs drawn entrance of the house or in the courtyard. Occasionally, any one can find the entire floor covered with beautifully drawn Kolam, an intricacy of white ornamentation list such as a carpet.

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Kolam drawing often used thinly grounded rice flour on wet ground previously sprinkled with water. Coloring with colored powders integrates extra appeal. Utilizing the milled grain for the purpose has, in integration a religious significance for Hindus, has its own moral principle to hold, altruism to poorer insects. Apart from this long-standing convention gives the binding training in free hand drawing to the young women and thus it has also an educative value set on it. The Kolam fashioned daily, at the entrance of every Tamil Hindu house, contain various connotations and they connected with the prevalent conceptions on the evil eyes.

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This art helps to develop mental strictness and concentration. There are several types of Kolams in practice. In North India, these kolams are referred as "Rangoli", which are very colorful.

In Tamil Nadu it is largely known as 'Pulli Kolam'' or 'Neli Kolam'. Normally, a Kolam is drawn with bare fingers using prearranged dots. The dots are either joined together to make a pattern or loops are drawn around the dots to complete a kolam.

A Lot of concentration and Practice are required to mature this art form. During the Months of December-January, (in the Tamil month, Markazhi) the large ornamental Kolams were drawn in front of each and every house of Tamil Nadu. This art is also attracted many foreigners. Now Kolam contests are very popular in Tamil Nadu.

Some people don't realize the fact, nor can we in any respect care to distinguish the explanation. The dear customs of antediluvian Tamils have broken up now in case in any respect they exist. Tamil Culture and custom have particular ends in view and particular aims to perform. Now we will try to understand the foundation of this Kolam comprising right in front, within the interior of houses.

The traditional people used rice flour to compose the designs therefore fed myriads of ants daily which might get into unwanted places inside the house and prove bothersome. The entity of the custom began, annoyed by the make use of powdered limestone. Precisely the best chance for showing mercy and altruism to poorer insects disoriented.

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The Tamil month 'Margazhi' is always alacritously expected by women in Tamil Nadu, who would then display their aptitude by enveloping the road with one large Kolam. It used to be a matter of dignity to be able to illustrate large with full of twists and turn patterns without hoisting their hand off the floor standing up in between. Volunteering to draw kolams at Temples are sometimes practiced when the desires of the Devote are full filled.

Everyday kolam is naturally white, an indication of purity. Welcoming kolams, invites that a home is open to guests and friends. They are particularly used to welcome wedding guests for the most main event of a woman's life. Marriage halls and places of devotions used to be festooned with Kolams, utilizing only rice flour. The Kolam design composing in rice flour was proposed for auspicious accommodations only and so it is that in every Tamil marriage and other holy and auspicious occasions we visually perceive they are plentifully made utilization of this art.

Cradle kolam, is drawn for the naming ceremony of a newborn baby. A song is also sung wishing for the healthiness and good future of the baby.

On ill-fated occasions such as death in a house, various observances are executed and it is not the custom to beautify the floor with Kolam on those junctures; nor people scrutinize the custom when annual observance called Siratham for the dead ancestor are performed; but on the divergent people assiduously avoid it on those occasions.

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Rangoli is a form of art-painting that is very common in India. It is practiced extensively in the northern parts of India, even if rangoli work is seen even in other parts of India as well. It involves painting designs on the floor or the walls using colored powders, and is used to beautify the front portion of the houses on some important days as well as festivals. The term Rangoli derives from two words - 'rang' - meaning color and 'aavalli' - meaning colored creepers or rows of color. The beginning of the tradition of Rangoli can be traced back to a legend indicated in the Chitralakshana, (the first Indian treatise on painting). Nearly all of the drawings in Rangoli is the inspiration from nature. You would find the portrayal of distinctive natural elements - flowers, creepers, peacocks, etc. in a rangoli.

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Rangoli is a long-established decorative folk art of India. Rangoli is believed to bring good luck and wealth. The size and shape of rangoli is entirely depends on the person making the design. Normally, these rangolies are displayed during the occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, celebrations of marriages and other similar gatherings.

A new style of making rangolies is practiced which involves utilizing cement colors with marble powder. This is a rather clear-cut method but requires some previous training. Stunning portraits can be drawn utilizing this method.

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Where as Kolam is drawn throughout the year in most homes in Tamil Nadu, it is exceptionally significant during Pongal festival. During Pongal season, many of the roads, streets of Tamil Nadu present a riot of colors, with decorative Kolam drawn using white and colored powders in front of temples, houses, shops and offices. During the Pongal festivity celebration, nearly all the houses in the entire Tamil Nadu are festooned with beautiful colorful Kolams. Complicated designs are drawn using white and other color powders. The custom of Kolam making is not new. Actually, it can be traced back to the times of the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 B.C).

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Usually, Ladies of the family jointly draw the kolam with rice flour that can be plain as well as colored. A kolam may be a plain line drawing or can be artistically drawn with symbols of cosmic interest with color. On the Pongal festivity, the total family gets occupied with the task of making Pongal kolam. A Kolam may be naive in a pattern or may consist of complex patterns. Kolam is not just a visual art, but a means of communicating happiness and prosperity. The white rice flour finds its way in the drawing of Kolam patterns for Pongal. The dazzling red color that is utilized to border the Kolam is believed to ward off the wicked spirits. The kolam identify the sacred area where the Pongal is prepared. Within the drawn area of kolam, normally, firewood is used to cook the Pongal.

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For exclusive occasions limestone powder and red brick powder are also used. Though kolams are customarily made with dry rice flour, dilute rice paste or even paints are also used for its longevity. Modern versions of kolam have accommodated chalk, and more recently vinyl stickers. Anyhow, an average Tamil Kolam is all about, evenness, accuracy and intricacy, providing a good feast for your eyes and mind.

Ref: Google Books.

On a daily basis kolams are typically white, an indication of purity. On exclusive or festive occasions, kolams become very colorful and meaningful. For example inclusion of turmeric powder in a kolam denotes prosperity. A kolam is usually drawn with bare fingers using a pre-determined number of dots. Kolams connect the private realm to public life, welcome to guests and passersby, the private and household to the divine. Like this, more than a temporary art, they are a conscious science. They are a delicate bridge between the home and the world beyond. In olden days, wandering saints would enter a village with kolams gracing the entrances of village homes and know something of the lives of the residents of each house. Wealth, hardship, aspirations were written on the earth with a few lines and dots or the nonexistence of them.

There are quite a few modern designs such as an elephant and cows, one with a carpet design, Pongal designs with sugarcane and overflowing pots and intricate geometric patterns with messages of 'Happy Pongal', 'Welcome' and 'Thank You'. etc.

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Designs Credit to: My Kolam

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