Kolam

This type of kolam are generally drawn in the month of margazhi, the month which is famous for drawing kolams in south India. This kolam can be labeled under various categories such as Apartment kolam, Dots kolam, Margazhi kolam, Other kolams, Pulli kolam, Star kolam.

Chariot rangoli kolam

Ter or chariot is something which has a religious meaning in south Indian temples. Every Hindu temples in South India has a 'ter'. These are vehicles for deities which are pulled with ropes by many worshipers. It used when the deities are taken for a tour around the area or village. This practice started to let the 'untouchables' see the deities at-least once or twice a year. As they are not allowed to enter the temple.

This kolam shows the 'ther' with it glory. All the colorful silk flags and flower decoration. One can see a swastika symbol in the approx center of the design.There is thoranum or hanging decoration to frame the stage of the 'ter'. Deepam can be seen placed on either side of the center of the stage. Over the wooden wheels we can see lotus design. The kalasum on top finishes the design.

It is colored to enhance the richness of the religious symbol. There is symmetry in the design. The colors are well balanced and true to form. Coming under the category of chariot kolam, rangoli and other kolam. As a rangoli it looks beautiful.

Butterfly rangoli kolam

Butterflies are wonders of nature. They are so beautiful in various shapes and sizes. Very attractive catch eye of all human beings. Flowers are the source of their nutrition. Stars are as beautiful as the butterflies. Butterflies are symbol of freedom, beauty, seduction etc. Flowers are sign of beauty and life, sometimes womanhood. Whereas stars signify light shone on the right path. These were always there in our life and our ancestors. And inspired our fellow beings who used them in their many forms of art.

In the center we can see a flower. The petals of which looks a bit like the skewed up version of butterfly with antennas on top. The star encompasses the flower. Six petaled flower and pink butterflies surround it. The overall shape is hexagonal.

It is drawn with the help of the dots. This kolam design comes under the category of butterfly kolam, dots kolam, flower kolam, pulli kolam and other kolam. The colors used are well balanced. The kolam is symmetrical in nature. It can be colored to create a rangoli.

Candle rangoli kolam

When something new is introduced it intrigues people. It inspires them if it satisfies them. That is the reason why they are seen in the art world. And when it is presented in art form, it attracts people due to its novelty. People say that new things make people investigate it until it gets old and they get bored. Introducing modified version of an object makes the old ones retain their value, in some cases the source objects value goes up.

This kolam design probably is created when candle was introduced in Tamil Nadu. The candles in the design seems Asian. It looks Japanese or Chinese. These candles are arranged in a cross like patterns with small plus shaped motif. triangular border finishes the design. The candle is colored and floral motifs adorn the candles.

The kolam is colored to create the rangoli. It comes under the category of candle kolam, deepam kolam, festival kolam, lamp kolam and other kolam. It can be drawn with the help of dots. The colors and the kolam design looks Asian. The colors will look good on earthy color backgrounds. There is symmetry in the design. The colors in the kolam is also balanced.

Deepam kolam

Flower and deepam are part of kolam design for a long time as these are decorating items used inside the house. Flowers are grown in every garden of south Indian houses. Mainly one can see many kinds of jasmine. They are used to adorn ones hair, photographs of deities, any precious object etc. Deepam were used as functional accessory in a house, later with electricity available, it became more of a decorative accessory of our homes.

Kolam design is made of flower and deepam motif to form an attractive design. The center design is flower with twelve petals and a uneven outline. Repeated on either side on top and bottom of the center design. Curved diamond shaped motifs connect the flowers. Four deepam on four sides finishes the design.

It comes under the category of Deepam kolam, diwali kolam, flower kolam, karthigai deepam kolam, lamp kolam and other kolam. The kolam is drawn with the help of dots and colored to form a rangoli. Rangoli design has symmetry and balance. The colors are well balanced. Can be drawn on earth to enhance the beauty of the design.

Deepam kolam

Lamps were first used to light space to let our ancestors see in dark. Later earthen lamps became part of rituals. Metal lamps can also be seen in temples. There are no hindu temple that doesn't have earthen lamps and metal lamps. Some temples are famous for the size of lamps and the durability of the flame. There are five important elements that is considered to be the base of everything- living or non living. These are water, air, fire, earth and sky. Lamps are symbol of one of the main element- fire.

This kolam design is made of curved lines with the guidance of dots. There is symmetry in the design. We can see a formal balance in the kolam. The overall shape of the design is star shaped. It is an hand drawn kolam drawn by one of my relatives.

It comes under the category of deepam kolam, dots kolam, festival kolam, karthigai deepam kolam, lamp kolam, star kolam and other kolam. The center design of the kolam is hexagon. Around which the kuthu vilaku or metal lamps and earthen lamps are arranged to form a star like overall shape. It can be colored to form a rangoli.

Flower Kolam

Flower has become an object which mainly inspired most the artist in every common man or woman. Different flowers and their stylized form is used in many of the designs. In carvings, architecture, drawings, murals and other early representation of art. Using geometrical form of flowers can be seen in stained glass, mosiacs and some embroideries.

This kolam design reminds me of phulkari embroidery of punjab. Eight petaled flowers in a cross like shape is used throughout the design. It looks mostly like the traditional motif of Phulkari. It forms a step like design. Which has layers to it.

There is symmetry in the design. It is proportional to each other. There is repetition in the design. There is rhythm in the kolam. It uses geometric motifs. Kolam is drawn with the help of dots. This kolam can be colored with bright colors to bring part of punjab to your door step, literally. It comes under the category of dots kolam, flower kolam, pulli kolam and other kolam.

Deepam kolam

Karthigai deepam has come. A festival celebrated by lighting deepam everywhere in the house to stop the darkness from consuming light. Deepam or normal vilakku is a earthen lamp filled with oil, it has a wick which is lighted. The house is filled with light during karthigai deepam. It looks as though there are around hundred stars lighting up the house. Every house shines like group of fire flies invaded them. Now this tradition which part of our culture is also extincting. People are lighting only two or three lamps now a days. Or going crazy with led instead of earthen lamps.

This kolam design uses lamps and their curves to bring out an amazing kolam. Six deepam face inside at the center. They are surrounded by deepams and four petal flowers. Sets of deepam like that of the central group and three petaled flower complete the design. The overall shape of the kolam is hexagonal.

It comes under the category of diwali kolam, dots kolam, festival kolam, kathigai deepam kolam and other kolam. It is symmetrical and is also proportional. The kolam shape is hexagonal. It is drawn with the help of dots that give it the shape. It can be colored look like an rangoli.

Ship rangoli kolam

Kolam or rangoli design is inspired from day to day life of our ancestors and some of them are innovative designs. But most of the Indian arts are inspired by the surrounding of the people. Like the cave paintings which shows humans, animals and plants. These are mostly stylized as they are not very realistic. And probably they didn't have much tool to work with. That is not our topic, the thing is everything around them inspired them.

This is one such design. Which looks like a stylized version of the ship. The flags in the ship can have its own meaning or it can be the Pan African flag or flag of Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. There is a cabin in the middle with bit of islamic design. And smoke is coming from the ship. It might be a stylized design of a ship standing which stood out from the other. Some things that are different from others stand out and are more inspirational.

Our culture is something to cherish as it has some value and meaning. Everything has a reason hidden under tradition. With changing time we are letting go of our culture. It is best to take our tradition and culture, which is our identity, with us when we are developing. Letting go means that it won't reach the coming generation. Thus, forgotten in time which means that most of good values are gone forever. Thanks for reading and i hope some of these words reaches you & stays with you.

Dots kolam

"I came to feel an artist might use anything - a dot, a line, the most conventional or unconventional symbol - to say what he wanted to say" -Marcel Duchamp.

"The dot stands for 'detail' - always be paying attention to detail. I feel that people take you as serious as you take yourself. I spent a lot of time working on my craft, developing my style, and after I came out of my little incubation, I promised that I would pay attention to detail" - Anderson Paak.

Our mothers used to draw new designs and their inspiration in any paper they got hold of. This was their creativity. This their way of decorating our houses. From our childhood we have been seeing this and secretly appreciating it.

This design is made of set of modified stars or flowers with curved lines. Its over all shape is hexagonal. The design is made of seven modified stars or flower. There is balance in the design. It is symmetrical. Colors can be used to enhance the design.

There is emphasis in the design. This kolam or rangoli is made with the guide of dots. There is a outer line which completes the design. It comes under the category of dots kolam, pulli kolam, simple kolam, star kolam and other kolams. It can also be colored.

Star rangoli kolam

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream" -Vincent van gogh.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"- William Shakespeare.

In most of the star related kolam or rangoli, I already told you all the significance of the star in a design. Those of you who are new, star is a path finder which shines light on the right path. Roses come in many colors with thorns very sharp. These show some beautiful things are difficult to obtain.

Star in the design is elongated length wise. It encompasses a oval arrangement of roses and leaves. The center is another star. The colors used are warm colors. The design is symmetrical and formal design. The color combination is balanced.

There is emphasis in the design. It can be drawn every other day in front of our houses or during special occasions as sides. It comes under the category of apartment kolam, flower kolam, rangoli, simple kolam, star kolam and other kolam.

Flower rangoli kolam

"Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower"- John Harridan.

"Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love" -Stevie Wonder.

Flowers are adorable and attractive in nature. They calm our mind and relaxing to us. Leaves are food processing unit of plants. Some leaves are of variety of colors, come in different textures and shapes. When arranged with flowers they enhance the beauty of flowers. Stars wade away darkness and bring in light showing us path.

Star takes the center of this design. Flowers surround the center. Arranging leaf in between the flowers. Star is made of band of lines. The flower is also composed with geometrical shapes. Leaf is made with curved lines or what we call murukku design.

The design is well balanced symmetrically and colors are in harmony. There is symmetry in the design.It can be drawn with the guidance of dots or directly as a rangoli. It comes under the category of star kolam, flower kolam and other kolam.

Flower rangoli Kolam

"A woman should be like a single flower, not a whole bouquet"- Anna Held.

"The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life"- Jean Giraudoux.

Floral design goes naturally with exteriors. Flowers are most colorful and beautiful part of plants. Many plants are grown just for their flowers. These flowers are used to ecorate rangoli or kolam in many areas of our country. Flowers are also used as accessories by woman and a sign of respect in temples.

This kolam or rangoli as you can see uses floral motifs. It is drawn using dots as the guidance. These dots are first placed and then the pattern is drawn over it. This like solving a puzzle and is meant to help problem solving in ladies. That is another reason the kolam or rangoli should be given importance.

Like other folk arts of India which is getting famous in other countries, this should also become known to all. It’s the best way to create puzzles and solving it. The process gave flexibility and good posture to backbone. It was traditionally drawn with rice which fed insects. See how thoughtful our ancestors were. Kolam or Rangoli has so deep meanings to it. And it beautifully decorated our houses. It was drawn even inside the house in mud houses. White color on d earthly tones is very attractive.

Deepam Dots kolam

"Home is, I suppose just a child's idea. A house at night, and a lamp in house. A place to feel safe" -V.S. Naipaul.

"If you want a love message heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, to keep putting oil in it" -Mother Teresa.

This design is made of flower and deepam. The central design is composed of a deepan encompassed by a six petaled flower. The vertex of the petaled flower is joined with flame of the deepam on stand. Curved lines join deepam with th flower. In between the deepam or lamps on stand is small deepam.

When i was a child my mother used to draw kolam everyday in front of the house. She used to collect pages of magazine which had inspirational designs. And also has a notebook with kolam drawn with pencil or pen. These were usually scribbles or trials of the kolam or rangoli design. She also tried new innovative designs. With random number of dots on the page she designed creative motifs.

There is emphasis in the design. This kolam or rangoli is made with the guide of dots. There is a outer line which completes the design. It comes under the category of Deepam kolam, Diwali kolam, Karthigai deepam kolam, lamp kolam and other kolam. It can also be colored.

Flower rangoli kolam

"I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow" -Abraham Lincoln.

"The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life" -Jean Giraudoux.

Hibiscus is a flower which can be seen in mostly in South Indian residential gardens. These flowers are used in puja, kept in the center of kolam or rangoli, some woman keep it in their hair and is also used in home remedies regarding skin & hair. And we all know that in early ages the art was inspired from things which surrounded them. Like human beings, flowers or we can say fauna and flora.

The center of the kolam or rangoli design is a small flower. Leaves and curved lines together with the small flower form a triangular central design. There are six hibiscus surrounding the central design. The colors are kept to the natural shades of the flower. Red, yellow and half white hibiscus.

Hibiscus are separated by curvy lines. There is balance in the design both symmetrically and color scheme. There is rhythm in the kolam. There is also emphasis in the design. This comes in the category of flower kolam, rangoli and other kolam. It can be drawn with the guidance of dots or just drawn as a rangoli.

Flowers dots kolam

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser" -John W. Gardner

According to Lance Nelson’s study of Kolam “Bhumi Devi [earth goddess] is our mother. She is everyone’s source of existence. Nothing would exist without her. The entire world depends on her for sustenance and life. So, we draw the kolam first to remind ourselves of her. All day we walk on Bhumi Devi. All night we sleep on her. We spit on her. We poke her. We burden her. We do everything on her. We expect her to bear us and all the activities we do on her with endless patience. That is why we do the kolam.”

Like other traditional art of India, Kolam is also transferred from one generation to another. Grandmothers teach their grandchildren. Some educated women started to keep records of the design so that it can be passed from one generation to other. Gradually new designs are added to the kolam book.

This is a basic kolam design. mostly used as sides of the design. Simple floral design with curved lines to support it. It is symmetrical. The center of the design is a six petaled big flower with sharp petals. Central flower is surrounded by six small flowers. There are curved lines joining the big flowers with the smaller ones.

The design is symmetrical and well balanced. Colors can be used to enhance the design. It comes in the category of dots kolam, flower kolam, pulli kolam and other kolam. The emphasis is given by the size difference in the flower. The center flower bigger than the surrounding once.

Peacock dots kolam

“Be like a peacock and dance with all of your beauty.” ― Debasish Mridha.

“I shall always remember how the peacocks’ tails shimmered when the moon rose amongst the tall trees, and on the shady bank the emerging mermaids gleamed fresh and silvery amongst the rocks…” ― Hermann Hesse.

Peacock is the most beautiful bird with all those attractive feathers. It was used as a hand fan for kings. It has a richness and elegance to it. It is believed that peacock feathers are used to keep lizards away from the house. Peacock is the national bird of our country.

The center of the design is concentric stars. On the either side of the star are peacocks. They are reflected on the bottom half. The feathers of top two peacock and bottom two peacock are merged. It is drawn with the help of dots. It is elongated vertically.

It comes under the category of bird kolam, dots kolam, peacock kolam, star kolam, pulli kolam and other kolam. My grandmother and mother used to draw kolam on the floor and notebooks to record it. Whenever they saw a kolam or rangoli design on a magazine they used to get so interested. Their curiosity created innovative new designs.

Deepam rangoli kolam

This Kolam or rangoli design consists of deepam and flowers. If you read the previous posts, you'll know that deepam means Lamps made of clay which looks somewhat like a bowl with 'v' shaped extention on one side. These are mostly used in India as a decoration cum lighting for big functions.

To me the design looks a bit Chinese because of the colors i think. Especially the pink shades in it. In the center of the design is a star shaped flower with round petals. The petals have a diamond shaped extension. There is an hexagonal outline. In between which we can see jalli like floral motifs. Deepams on the vertex of the hexagon faces inwards. Diamond shaped extension exceed farther into another diamond shape. This has a flower in the further end.

There is a wonderful movement of eye in the design giving it perfect rhythm. There is formal balance in this design. It comes under the category of deepam kolam, diwali kolam, festival kolam, karthigai deepam kolam, rangoli and other kolam.

Deer rangoli kolam

Flora and fauna are the mostly used motifs in early art works. Deer is an adorable animal. There are many songs and stories related to deer in Indian literature. Even in the Hindu literature 'Ramayanam' there is a part were Seeta sees a golden deer and asks Ram to catch it for her. And parrot is something which is related to deities for a long time. Madurai Meenakshi temple had many parrots when I was a kid. Most of them used to repeat what they heard.

The center of the kolam design is a shell flower. The petals of the petals look like the tail part of sangu. Parrots sitting on small red flower suround the central design. In its beak we can see another small flower. Deer and lotus flower form the last layer of the kolam.

There is symmetry in the design. Kolam is made with formal balance. The overall shape of the design is hexagonal. The colors are well balanced. It made with the guidance of dots and colored to form a rangoli. This kolam comes under the category of animal kolam, bird kolam, deer kolam, flower kolam, parrot kolam, lotus kolam, rangoli and other kolam.

Flower pulli kolam