Understanding Kolam, an ancient art form

As thousands from the US and India take part in a digital kolam collage to welcome US President Joe Biden and V-P Kamala Harris, a practitioner shares the history, relevance and benefits of this ancient art form

When Thane-based kolam practitioner Hema Kannan tells us that the ancient art of drawing geometric patterns, typically outside one's home, is a sign of welcome, this writer can't help remembering her maiden visit to Chennai. Away from home for the first time, it was this hand-drawn rice flour pattern at the threshold of her hotel entrance that had put this writer at ease, reminding her of the similar art form, alpana, that her mother would paint at their Kolkata doorway. And it is this welcoming invitation of hope and a new beginning that thousands of individuals across the US and India extended to President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, ahead of their swearing-in ceremony.

The art project Inauguration Kolam 2021 was divided into two parts — a physical installation of 1,800 handcrafted cardboard tiles in front of the US Capitol, and a digital kolam collage. Kannan, whose Nataraja-themed kolam featured in the digital collage, shares, "Kolam signifies positivity and celebration. I chose to depict Nataraja as he signifies balance in the universe." With visuals of the cross-border art project going viral, Kannan paints the story behind this unique art form.

A part of the 2,500-sq ft kolam installation that was to be set up at the US Capitol. Pic courtesy/Inauguration kolam 2021 on facebook

Patterns of positivity

"Kolam is a Tamil word for a geometrical artwork done on the floor, usually at the threshold of a house. It's made with rice flour," shares Kannan, who has been actively sharing her love for kolams through her social media page, The Lotus Shakti. What sets kolam apart from its variants such as alpana in West Bengal or muggu in Karnataka, is the fact that it's made in such a way that one ends up giving back to nature, as the pattern becomes a feeding ground for birds and insects. "It traps any negative energy, and is a welcoming invitation to visitors," she notes.

US President Joe Biden fist-bumps newly sworn-in V-P Kamala Harris in Washington. Pic courtesy/Getty

Part of our heritage

While kolams, made using dots and lines, are quintessential to Tamilian households, they date back centuries, with mentions in the Mahabharata, too. "According to the story, even before Draupadi would start cooking, she would draw three lines on the stove, as a note of gratitude to the sun god. There's also an old Tamil book, Arpudha Kolamanjiri, written in 1901," Kannan informs us.

Chikku kolam

Read between the lines

Kannan, who has penned Aatmashakti, a book on her journey with kolams, reveals that the art form offers positive perspectives on life. "The dot signifies the beginning of life, and the lines you draw around them show the way we navigate around our hardships," she suggests. As kolams are ephemeral — washed away or walked over — they are also a lesson in letting go. Kannan adds that kolam is a trans-disciplinary art form, with applications in computer science, too. "For homemakers back in the day, the placement of dots and lines were a display of mathematical and economic skills," she illustrates, adding that since one has to bend down to draw the lines it's also a form of exercise and meditation.

Wedding of Lord Krishna and Andal by Kannan

There are numerous types of kolams such as lotus, sikku and dot, but Kannan likes to chalk out stories from folktales. When we ask her for tips to get started, she says: "Kolams provide happiness to the viewer, and to the maker. All you need is a mix of rice flour and rock powder, and your fingertips."

Getting started

. Kannan posts a lot of videos and pictures of making intricate designs. She also conducts workshops.
Log on to @thelotusshakti on Instagram or Facebook

. While kolams teach you the power of patience, one may not always have the time. Check out kolam stencils for a quick fix.
Log on to amazon.in

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