kolam

[Guest guest]

This is from the same source..

BB AY

 

 

Kolam

Kolam - one of the many unique aspects of our rich and varied culture. If one

steps out of the house at day break, one will find ladies of each house

standing outside their gates and sprinkling water on the ground.High rise

apartments and fast life has almost made this practice non-existent in the

city. But a few traditional homes still wake up to the day with the kolam. This

age old custom of the South Indians is still practices regiliously in the

villages and towns, though. Before drawing the kolam, certain preliminary

exercises have to be done. First, the ground has to be swept clean of sand,

stones and other debris. Next, it has to be wetted with finely sprinkled water,

so that the pattern stays put. And finally, the "kola maavu" is taken out. Using

finely ground rice flour, intricate patterns ("kolam") are drawn in the front of

each home. Curves, lines and dots - myrid shapes are created using a combination

of all three. From a simple 3 dots by 3 dots pattern to an elaborate 21 by 21

(and maybe more!), drawing a kolam is a delicate and backbreaking process. The

pattern usually depends on the lady who draws it and her expertise with the

flour. Maarghazi maasam (mid Dec - mid Jan) is a time when whole streets are

filled with the massive kolams. Sometimes, bright yellow pumpkin flowers are

kept as the centrepiece. The beauty of this practice is not its aesthetic

appeal - but also its usefulness to even the smallest creation. The patterns

are drawn in rice flour so ants and birds can feed on them. Cow dung is mixed

with the water that is sprinkled on the ground prior to the kolam application

for its disinfectant nature.

Kolam 01

Kolam 02

Kolam 03

Kolam 04

Kolam 05

Kolam 06

Kolam 07

Kolam 08

Kolam 09

Kolam 10

Kolam 11

Kolam 12

Kolam 13

Kolam 14

Kolam 15

Kolam 16

Kolam 17

Kolam 18

Kolam 19

Kolam 20

Kolam 21 Kolam 22

Kolam 23 Kolam 24

Kolam 25

Kolam 26

Kolam 27

Kolam 28Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com