r u n a w a y m a n g o: Kolam

As we arrived to Madurai in October which was a big holiday month, we could not help but notice beautiful white and colored designs decorating people's doorsteps. We soon learnt that it was called kolam and it was done by women early in the morning. Since the first week we were waking up way before sunrise due to jetlag, we could see this beautiful tradition being practiced all around our neighbors houses. The kids were fascinated and could not wait to try their hand at kolam. We got some colored kolam powder as a gift from Mr. Selvakumar's family, but after the first attempt I banned it from our house - too messy. Finally we ran into kolam salesman who was selling white kolam powder door to door, and now we have more than enough to play with. Maya has been studying kolam design patterns from Mutamma and as you will see from the photos, she has improved quite a bit. She loves pattern anyways, so this is a great form of expression for her.

Since that's all I know about kolam, below is what I found in Wikipedia about kolam in South India:

Kolams are thought to bestow prosperity to homes. Every morning in southern India, millions of women draw kolams on the ground with white rice powder. Through the day, the drawings get walked on, rained out, or blown around in the wind; new ones are made the next day. Every morning before sunrise, the floor of the owners house ,or where ever it may be, is cleaned with water and the muddy floor is swept well for an even surface. 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. In some cultures, cow dung is believed to have antiseptic properties and hence provides a literal threshold of protection for the home. It also provides contrast with the white powder.

Decoration was not the sole purpose of a Kolam. In olden days, kolams used to be drawn in coarse rice flour, so that the ants don't have to work that much for to long for a meal. The rice powder is said to invite birds and other small critters to eat it, thus inviting other beings into one's home and everyday life: a daily tribute to harmonious co-existence. It is a sign of invitation to welcome all into the home, not the least of whom is Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity. The patterns range between geometric and mathematical line drawings around a matrix of dots to free form art work and closed shapes. 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.

It used to be a matter of pride to be able to draw large complicated patterns without lifting the hand off the floor standing up in between. The month of Margazhi was eagerly awaited by young women, who would then showcase their skills by covering the entire width of the road with one big kolam. The ritual kolam patterns created for occasions such as weddings can stretch all the way down streets. Patterns are often passed on generation to generation, from mother to daughter. Powdered white stone was used for Kolam. Seasonal messages like welcome is used in Kolam. Volunteering to draw kolam at temple is sometimes done when a devotee's wishes are fulfilled.