Kolam – a prominent custom in TamilNadu

In Tamilnadu you can see kolam entrance of the house in the morning time. It is an important custom in Tamilnadu. It is also known as Rangoli in many parts of India. This art is famous in almost southern part of India. Pongal Kolam

But it has the traditional value especially in Tamilnadu. Mostly Hindu people residing in the individual houses used to create beautiful kolam in front of their gates. Kolam is normally drawn with bare fingers. There is a belief that creating kolam in front of the house brings prosperity and it is a welcome note to the wealth Goddess Lakshmi. They use the kolam powder, which is made of using nicely grounded the rice grinded nicely. During the ordinary days, the kolam is not given colour, even then it looks amazing. It shows how perfectly it is designed.

How to prepare the kolam powder

Mostly the kolam powder prepared with rice in house by the housewife or the grandmother in the house. The preparation of this powder is also very easy or you can use the flour mill, where you can powder the rice very nicely.

traditonal kolam

Nowadays, readymade kolam powders and even the kolam design in plastic moulds are also available in the shops. If you like to make the powder at home here is the procedure to do so.

- First, you can buy the rice which can be low quality also for Kolam powder.

- Secondly, soak the rice for at least one hour.

- Thirdly, clean the rice until all the dirt out. Drain all the water from the nice.

Then, take one cotton white cloth spread the rice in that. When the rice is half wet grind it in the mixer or if you are going to grind it in shop then dry it then powder it in the shop.

After grinding a dry it in a cloth and keep it in shade for 2 hours. Keep that in a air tight container.

This is preparation procedure of Kolam powder to draw the simple kolams in front of the house everyday.

How to make color powder for making rangoli

Making coloured Kolams is also one of the important part in creating beautiful kolams. The coloured powders are available in the shop. Normally you cannot add the coloured powder in the kolam. The color powder is mixed with fine sand particles to give the kolam a good glow. Some ladies mix the color powder with the white kolam powder but it will not give the desired result. Even some put the color directly in kolam which create patches in the kolam, which does not make it good.

Why Kolam is so important in Tamilnadu?

During the festival season very big kolam design is made in front of the house. Even the ladies in the house of Hindu family sit together and make a plan on what type of kolam they can draw and split the work, i.e. who is going to make the coloring part. Color combination is very much necessary if you are going to make a rangoli.

traditional kolam

By the kolam drawn in front of a house you can also know the unity of the people of that house. If one big kolam to be created all the ladies in the house must be united. There are also some important medicinal values there in making the kolam. During making the kolam one has bend forward which gives strength to their hip and thighs. You have to concentrate while making the kolams. So the concentration level increases. Have to get up early in the morning, during the morning the pollution level is also low. Will get non-polluted oxygen to breath.

traditional kolam

In Tamilnadu the pulli (dot) kolam is very famous. In this they just put some small points in sequential manner to create kolam. The speciality of this Kolam is can be started by anyone and finished by anyone according to their idea.

When you can see big kolams and competition?

During Margazhi, ladies are literally competing with each other by making big and beautiful kolam in front of their house. Even competitions were also held during that time. Lots of housewife, college going girls and even office goers are also take part in that competition and show their designs and creativity.

Kolam – a prominent custom in TamilNadu