In TamilNadu, we have a custom of putting kolam. Kolam is a design that is draw on the streets in front of each house. The people in each house have to clean the space in front of the house, sprinkle water and then draw this kolam. It is believed that Goddess Mahalaxmi, the Goddess of wealth blesses that house.
Those days in villages since most of the house were built in mud and bricks, the entrance of the house and the walls were decorated with these kolams. The kolams are drawn with powders and they are made ideally with rice flour. The idea is that the ants need food and this is how it is given. But there are also commercial ones that are made of some fine ground rock. These kolams generally are in white color.
During festivals and occasions like Diwali and New year, big ones are drawn and color powders are used to color them.
The beauty of kolam is, there is a count of dots that are put first and then lines run around/across in all calculated ways and joined finally where it started. It can be as big as blocking the entire street, widthwise! And as small as joining with four dots. When there was not much of education those days especially women, you would be amazed at how they draw these lines and make a beautiful design! And there are no numbers to join them.
May be this is how they developed their maths and logical abilities.
The reason I am writing is some celtic wire designs in jewellery and kolams are identical. I am amazed at the linking! From where to where?
This is an image of a kolam that I drew in our Pooja room in front of the deities. I have seen celtic wire designs similar to this.
Kavitha Balakrishnan
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