8 | Narrating Narratives
Conversations of a researcher about the Art of Kolam
Kolam (Tamil: கோலம்) is a form of drawing that is drawn by using rice flour, chalk, chalk powder or rock powder, often using naturally or synthetically coloured powders.
Chithi Patti (Grandmothers Younger Sister). Did you put the kolam today also?
Me. Yes Yes, As you suggested I put the Padi kolam.
Chithi Patti. Ah, yes Friday is auspicious for Lakshmi Devi, so it is to welcome her we put Padi Kolam.
Me. Oh, so every day there is a special kolam?
Chithi Patti. Yes, indeed — we used design our own kolam also & make sure we don't repeat them.
Me. You used to put the kolam every day?
Chithi Patti. Yes, Yes — You put kolam everyday of the year — it will show people that you are up awake and ready to welcome people into the house.
Me. So, why not put the colour kolam every day? Wouldn’t it look special?
Chithi Patti. You make the kolam with rice flour, dry for normal days & the wet one for special occasions or on Fridays. Rice is natural & it will be food for ants & pests that try to come inside the house. Colour is all plastic isn't it? what will it help the environment?
Me. Ah, so is it like a traditional way to stop pets at the gateway?
Chithi patti.ha….Seri, that can be one way of seeing it.
You have seen Kavi right, which we use as colour, in our days, & it was …what you say ..ah colour combination also white & marron.
Me. Yes, It does look beautiful — I have seen it when amma put it for navarathri around the golu.
Chithi Patti. Yes, for festivals my mother also used to decorate the entire house.
Me. Your mother?
Chithi Patti. Yes Yes, its an age old tradition for the lady of the house to put kolam in the entrance, near the god & the tulsi.
Me. three kolams a day? You should see in my house in the city, people just put a sticker kolam & they keep same for normal days & use rangoli only for festivals.
Chithi Patti.Yes, times are changing everywhere, but the arsi podi kolam(kolam with rice powder) has its own beauty & a change of trying a new one everyday.
I started putting kolam when I was 12 & in the early days, I wasn't as perfect — but it didn't matter, it was just until the next dawn & then I got a chance to try again, to be practice.
Me. Like everyday is a new chance to try & practice. I hope to be able to follow through the tradition of kolam.
Chithi Patti. It’s with the lineage of women that such art gets transferred, if you don't do it, your child wont learn & it eventually the art might just fly as dust.
(This conversation was in Tamil, Translated for the ease of reading.)