| Kolam 
"Kolam" refers to decorative artwork - a line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. Kolams are thought to bestow prosperity to homes. The rice flour used serves as food for the ants and birds thus inviting other beings into one's home and everyday life: a daily tribute to harmonious co-existence. Folklore has evolved to mandate that the lines must be completed so as to symbolically prevent evil spirits from entering the inside of the shapes, and thus are they prevented from entering the inside of the home. Most often finely ground rice flour is used to make these drawings on wet/moist ground previously sprinkled with water The kolams are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so that it is held better. Occasionally, cow-dung is also used to wax the floors. Cow dung has antiseptic properties and hence provides a literal threshold of protection for the home. It also provides contrast with the white powder. The drawing starting with a certain number pattern of points and curly lines going around these points. Many of these are completed with a single line going in an elegant but zig-zag away around the entire set of points. Coloration of the artwork with color powders adds additional charm. The tamil month of "markazhi" (Dec(Jan) is particularly important when fairly large size Kolams are put in front of the houses, with additional decoration of Kolams with yellow flowers of pumpkin. Kolam Designs பொங்கல் கோலம் (Pongal Kolam) கோலத் தொகுப்பு (Kolam Collection) கோலத் தொகுப்பு-2 (Kollam Collection-2) |