Kolam

Hi Every Body ,

Today the Topic is about Kolam . Our mother used to put Kolam outside the house early morning .
Most of us dont know why do we do it .So here is some thing to know about Kolam .



Meaning:
Kolam (Tamil: கோலம் kõlaṁ) is a form of sandpainting that is drawn using rice powder
by female members of the family in front of their home. It is widely practised by Hindus
in South India. A Kolam is a sort of painted prayer — a line drawing composed of curved
loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots.

Why and How?

Kolams are thought to bestow prosperity to homes. Every morning in southern India,
 millions of women draw kolams on the ground with white rice powder. Through the day,
 the drawings get walked on, rained out, or blown around in the wind; new ones are made
 the next day. Every morning before sunrise, the floor is cleaned with water,
the universal purifier, and the muddy floor is swept well for an even surface.
The kolams are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so that it is held better.
Occasionally, cow-dung is also used to wax the floors. Cow dung has antiseptic properties
 and hence provides a literal threshold of protection for the home. It also provides
contrast with the white powder.The ritual kolam patterns created for occasions such as
 weddings can stretch all the way down streets. Patterns are often passed on generation
 to generation, from mother to daughter.