Kolam

Kolam refers to decorative artwork drawn on the floor in front of houses and in front of deities in Puja rooms. Kolam is considered as an important form of artistic expression in India. Undoubtedly, Kolam can be called a most essential part of South Indian culture and it serves to embellish the doorstep and make it look more inviting. Moreover, it is a symbol of good fortune. The Tamil month 'Markazhi' (mid December to mid January) is particularly important month for Kolams, when fairly large sized Kolams are put in front of the houses. The original Tamil Kolam merely consists of white dots around which the intertwined lines are drawn, whereas the North Indian "Rangoli" is made up of various colours. In recent times, the use of colours has become popular even in South India. The "Kolam" is the most important kind of female artistic expression in India. It is a time old cultural tradition of South Indian families.