Kolam by Sudha Balaji

Varalakshmi Vratham or Varamahalakshmi Pooja will be celebrated on August 12 2016.  This is one of the most important  festivals and requires elaborate preparation and celebrations resulting in  joy and mental satisfaction . This festival  is called Varamahalakshmi Habba in Karnataka. The information is based on what is followed in  our family for decades.  It can vary across families also. For mangala aarthi in Kannada this is the link to my YouTube video Kannada aarthi For aarthi in Telugu this is the link to my YouTube video T elugu aarthi Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja preparation The preparation starts the previous day i.e Thursday , when the pooja room is cleaned , all the images of Gods and Goddesses are cleaned and sandalwood, turmeric powder and kumkum are applied on the images. Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja items requirements - a checklist  Fruits - five types of fruits including apple, guava , grapes , bananas , pomegranate  F...

Chukki rangoli are very popular for Bhogi , Sankranti festivals.  This beautiful 13 by 7 dots kolam for the festival. Tip:  Connect the dots for the curved lines in a single stretch.  Then the kolam looks more beautiful.      It is all in the mind when we do it confidently the result is awesome!! This post includes designs drawn for social media accounts as also a few free hand designs drawn by me at dawn.  I draw every day during Dhanrumasam at the break of dawn like many others (this is the tradition followed by many ladies in southern part of India).  Invariably it is a rangoli sans dots with colours.   I have added an image for those drawn outside in the courtyard and the light is dull, it proves that it was drawn at dawn:) For New Year and Sankranthi I prefer a pulli kolam.  Pongal is a time for celebration, joy.  Whenever we have festivals and festivities, we bring out our joy and happiness through various w...