ARTICLE
Kolam
Types of kolams may also be classified based on the occasions that they are made for. Nalvaravu, or welcome kolams are popularly made on the thresholds of homes and carry lotus motifs, as a sacred symbol. Kolams during the harvest festival of Pongal, feature the chariot of the sun god, sugarcane, or the sun as important motifs, and may also be created in the kitchen around the stove, apart from being made at the threshold. During Janmashtami, kolam designs depict the footsteps of an infant Krishna entering the house. In addition during the auspicious month of Margazhi, (mid-December to mid-January), large kolams are made outside most homes and competitions are held to judge the best kolams.
Muggu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, rangoli in Karnataka, sathya in Gujarat, mandana in Rajasthan, aipan in Himachal, jhoti or chita in Odisha and chowkpurna in Uttar Pradesh, amongst several others, are other forms of floor decorative art that are similar to kolam. Contemporary designs of kolam have now come to accommodate other festivals such as Christmas. Additionally, stickers and stencils have also become popular and are available to recreate kolam designs.
Bibliography
Balakrishnan, Asha. “Tamil Nadu’s iconic Kolam tradition involves creativity and mathematical skill.” Financial Express, January 07, 2020.
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/tamil-nadus-iconic-kolam-tradition-involves-creativity-and-mathematical-skill/1815822/
Kumari, Anni. “Significance of Kolam in Tamil Culture.” Sahapedia, July 03, 2018.
https://www.sahapedia.org/significance-of-kolam-tamil-culture
Menon, Madhuri. “Kolam”. D’Source. Accessed November 14, 2021.
https://www.dsource.in/resource/rangoli/types-rangolis/kolam
Robinson, T. “KOLAM.” Accessed November 14, 2021.
https://www.cmi.ac.in/gift/Kolam.htm
Siromoney, Gift. “South Indian kolam patterns.” Kalakshetra Quarterly. Vol.1, No.1. April 1978, 9–14. Chennai Mathematical Institute. https://www.cmi.ac.in/gift/Kolam/kola_pattern.htm