KOLAM / ALPANA

KOLAM / ALPANA

The front yard of every house just before the main door is considered to be a very vital place in every household. As head is the vital organ for a human body , so is the role of front yard. Usually no unwanted material is stored there. It is always kept spic and span. Special care is taken to ensure that the area is cleaned twice a day in the early morning before sun rise and in the evening before sun set the place is swept, water is sprinkled and Rangoli / Alpana is placed signifying that all is well in the house hold and guests are welcome.

Though in olden days there used to be a special extension around the front yard called as THINNAI or portico where men folk stayed talking discussing local politics or events. Ladies, youngsters are not allowed to sit there and were generally driven away by adults. With the advent of nuclear household, apartment cultures these practices are given away.

If the usually Rangoli is not there in front of the house it is presumed that someone has passed away. If there is any birth in the family at any point of time even late night water mixed Haldhi ( Turmeric) and lime ( Calcium Carbonate powder) are mixed in water and sprinkled in front of the house signifying an auspicious occasion.

Similarly welcoming a bride, new born are always done though the front yard.  In case of welcoming an important guest / Vedic Scholar eldest members of the family wait for his arrival in front yard and offer welcoming slogans and wash the feet of the elder in the front yard and welcome them with Poorna Khumbam ,  Water in a pot and on top of it coconut is placed along with Mango leaves as a symbol of Su Swagatham ( Hearty Welcome).

Since time immemorial special ornamental patterns of Kolams are learnt by young girls from their elders. These patterns are drawn using rice flour, thus the Kolams serve a purpose of charity by allowing ants, squirrels et. al. to eat the powder. Now a days we are using special stone powder and other organic & inorganic colour powders to make special motifs.

In Kerala still there is a special practice of lighting a lamp and keeping the same in the evening in the front yard. The lady with a lamp is a master piece painting by Raja Ravi Varma which we can find in many old calendars. The lady after keeping the lamp used to say Deepam so that people sitting around can offer a prayer in their mind! The lamp is to guide passersby in the evening.

In Andhra Pradesh there is a special function known as Bonalu associated with Kolam. It is now taken to new level with the formation of Telengana state.

In Tamil Nadu during the month of Margazhi ( 15’Dec to 14^th Jan) girls used to pray and keep pumpkin flowers in cow dung as decoration. Later these cow dung and flowers together are dried. Pongal is cooked using this as fire wood.

Some master pieces of Kolam are given below.