Saturday, January 13, 2018

Kolam Critters

Kolam is a south Indian tradition and Tamils made it an everyday custom to draw patterns in front of the houses and Margazhi is a Tamil month (between Dec-Jan) where Kolam takes special attention and ends with Pongal, the harvesting and thanksgiving festival of Tamil. Pongal Kolam is popular during this time and many put great efforts to make it look wonderful and colourful including drawing something relevant to the festival. Today marks the first day of the Pongal, called Bogi Pongal, and it’s a favourite festival among kids till late 90s where people light fire in front of the house and kids sit around and enjoy beating little skin drums, heating up from the fire.

Cute Cat Kolam by Grandma

Usually it’s the worn-out things (from home) that put into fire, like rush mats, winnows and broomsticks the most. It’s a festival adapts nature way of celebration and what we fire is all natural elements, that carries less evil to nature. But it wasn’t same in later years, when people started to fire anything from plastic to tyres it becomes a cause for concern. Apart that, Pongal is an auspicious festival that bring hope to life and being a harvesting festival, nothing could bring hope and cheer to life when farming is the base of food and we couldn’t stop thanking the farmers and natural sources that help us living, healthily.

IMG_9491

Coming to Kolam, I always admire the art made on the floor and apart my mom, aunt and grandma also make lovely designs and the critters (cat and peacock) here was drawn by grandma. Though these are simple ones it bears a cuteness I loved. Every year mom draw one or two colour Kolams for Pongal and I have no idea what she planned to draw this year and I would post that after the festival. I wish people a Happy Pongal!  

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

16 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I like these pretty critters and art work. The peacock is awesome.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend!

GreenComotion said...

How delightful!
Mayil is my favorite kolam :)

Have a Happy Day, Jeevan!!
Peace :)

Gosia said...

I love your picture . Greetings from Poland

Rose said...

Pretty, colorful designs.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Marvellous, Jeevan! Wishing you a very Happy Pongal

Breathtaking said...

Hello Jeevan!:) We have Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals too. I love your Grandmother's colourful artwork, and I'm happy to know that only natural elements are burnt now.:)

Nancy Chan said...

Very creative art!

Angie said...

Thank you for telling us about these traditions - lovely drawings! Happy Pongal!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Happy Pongal.... What an interesting harvest tradition.... I love reading about your traditions.. Your Mom is very talented.... Love seeing the colorful designs.. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Betsy

Sandhya said...

Beautiful Kolams, Jeevan. Liked all of them, esp the one of the cats:)

ashok said...

Happy Pongal Jeevan!

Ramakrishnan said...

Nice colorful & attractive !

Anonymous said...

Your grandma is amazing! She did a great job with the cat and peacock. These are beautiful! Happy Pongal, Jeevan!


Elsie

ashok said...

cute kolams!

carol l mckenna said...

Oh I love these symbols ~ beautifully done ~ ! What a wonderful tradition.

Happy Weekend to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Twilight Man said...

The kolams are beautiful. I am sure you could sometimes help them to draw and colour them too. You can make a small one for a start.