Charming Kolams, a silent prayer
 

by Panchamee Hewavissenti

Kolams are a sort of silent prayer and are believed to bring prosperity to home. They're drawn on the damp floor with rice flour. Hindu women and girls get up before sun rise and clean the floor and draw Kolams which is a graciously alluring sight.

Kolams, also known as Rangoli are ornamental designs with symmetrical and geometrical shapes. In festival times Kolams are drawn on courtyards. Kolams are drawn starting with a small dot and then it's spread it from the centre so as to develop variety of configurations.

The person who draws Kolam doesn't really have to have a good artistic talent. When the first bead of flour is dropped on the floor the rest of the sketch can be drawn easily as one's heart's content. One can draw any kind of design one may want. It also can be drawn free hand. But people who have a very good sense of art may draw fabulous Kolams.

There're many stories related to Rangoli or Kolams in the history of Hindus. There was a prince who lived in India in the eleventh century. There was also another pretty princess who lived in the same state. When that prince wanted to marry the princess there were many princes who came asking for her hand. The father of the princes decided to hold a Kolam competition to check who can draw Kolams well and skilfully.

At the end of the competition the prince won the Kolams competition and the heart of the princess.

In ancient times people used to obtain colours from natural herbs to mix with rice flour and draw Kolams. But at present people very often use artificial dyes to paint Kolams.

These can be poisonous for the creatures who come to eat these drawings on the floor. One of the purposes behind drawing Kolams is to pour sympathy on all creatures on earth.

Small creatures including ants, insects and birds come to eat the decoration done with rice flour. Therefore Kolam shows the importance of universal compassion.

The health benefits by Kolam is also obvious. When they get up in the morning and draw Koalm, it's a good stretching excersise. When drawing Kolam mental concentration is required. The creative faculties of the brain get a good exercise.

Some people use rose petals, scraped coconut remnants to draw Koalm apart from rice flour.