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  Flowers - Lotus and talampoo...

The first design above is a traditional muggu for the Dhanurmasa decoration.   During the time between December 15 and January 15 it is a season for muggu with beautiful and colourful muggu adorning the entrances of many homes.  Since my mother lived in Vizianagaram ,  I am aware of it and fortunately learnt a lot from her just by watching her.   Coming to the muggu I call it traditional because of the classical step like formation on all four sides.  After drawing the steps on four sides I have connected the inclined lines in a single stroke , we need steady hands that come with practice to do that.   After all the more we practice the closer we get to perfection.  The rest of the muggu is all about free hand decorations like spirals and more lines and these are according to our imagination.  We should choose patterns that may blend well with the main design. Dhanurmasam rangoli designs Traditional rangoli without chuk...

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 ...