Kolam by Sudha Balaji

  I find that the terms mandala or rangoli are freely used for rangoli designs in many countries outside India just as we use rangoli or kolam in India.  Since the word mandala is related to circle, let us have some circular designs as theme in this post. In the first rangoli concentric circles have been drawn without any aids like templates.  When we draw circles with this method there are some limitations.  Alternatively, we can mark the circles using geometric aids or a piece of chalk tied to a thread by drawing a number of concentric circles after holding one end of the string at what will be the centre of the circles.   After drawing the circles, the route along the circles can be overwritten with rangoli. I prefer the former method usually because I feel it gives a more naturalistic appearance to the rangoli. The rangoli is decorated with patterns inside.  As a result, it turns into an awesome rangoli . The use of free hand lotus designs makes i...

 I have tried this beautiful rangoli making technique using the traditional method of drawing kolam.   The main difference is that in kolam we draw the design and then fill with colours whereas when we draw sanskar bharti rangoli designs for Diwali. We fill the colours first and draw the patterns with white rangoli powder.  Sanskar bharti theme rangoli pic 1 The two images show sanskar bharti rangoli designs for beginners.  Using colours like green, pink, red with patterns like lotus, spirals the rangoli has been created.    I have added more patterns outside also. The influence of kolam can be seen of course. Sanskar bharti them rangoli pic 2 The usual method of filling the colours in the semi-circles or circles is draw the pattern with a piece of chalk tied to a thread.  Then fill with a tea filter.  I have made semi circles directly with the colours themselves as we usually do in kolam designs.   The picture below demonstrates h...

 I have shared these rangoli with colours elsewhere in this blog.  I am sharing them here so that you can colour them for Diwali festival according to your imagination.   You may also use them for vasal (entrance) kolam if you are looking for some intricate designs  Some of you may be aware that I share rangoli videos on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.   I share some interesting comments and feedback I get there on my blog. Recently, I had this comment for one of my videos "Coming here first time. Amazing ...authentic... alignment .... accolades pouring unto to you our dear artist. Purely divine utterly beautiful.   Background music also synced so divinely.... Lovely experience.... I love Rangolisansdots "     I have shared some of the adjectives that she used as an alliteration.   So far as background music is concerned, I use Carnatic music provided by Facebook and Instagram. I try to find the song I think is most suitable f...

Traditional rangoli for Diwali decoration, also for Lakshmi Puja Place 4 dots in eight directions as shown in the picture below.  An eight-petal lotus or ashta dhala padmam type of rangoli.   We can also draw for Friday or other auspicious occasions and festivals. This is slightly different from the auspicious rangoli, I shared for Tulsi Pooja in which I had drawn intersecting lines and then extended three collinear dots from each line.  There may be different methods, different solutions for any given rangoli design.  So, I have shared two sets of illustrations, one for Uttana Dwadashi rangoli and the other one her for Lakshmi Pooja.  Whichever you feel is easier we can adopt that.  Having said that, both are equally easy, I feel. This is the link to the rangoli design step by step for Uttana Dwadashi Tulasi Pooja. Maybe you can go through both the ideas and decide for yourselves. Diwali Lakshmi pujan rangoli, old model Chukki rangoli for Pooja room ...

 The following step by step pics show how to draw a big and easy rangoli for the festival. The dot grid is 15 to 8 but the design is very simple. The images will be self-explanatory If you want chukki rangoli design 15 to 8, easy rangoli with dots 15 to 8, 15 pulli kolam with colour for joyous festivals like Deepavali and New Year, you may try this. Rangoli tips - How to put colour rangoli - We have to decide on how to add colours to any kolam design.  Usually, we fill the spaces in the shapes formed with white rangoli with colours of our choice. Sometimes the spaces may not be sufficient to fill and if we do so it may blur or overshadow the main white kolam.   In such cases it is better to draw only colourful lines in the spaces.  These tips and tricks have been incorporated in what is one relatively big rangoli designs with dots with colours for Diwali festival decoration at home.  Big is a relative term. Choosing the right colour combination also matter...

Small and easy peacock rangoli for Diwali We are fascinated by Mother Nature .  Naturally we try to imitate her .   The result is trying peacock designs in rangoli art. We try to represent peacock as humanly as possible in this simple art form.  Here are some of the attempts made by me  This cute rangoli can be drawn very quick , in a jiffy. Cute and small single peacock rangoli Mayil kolam in padi kolam ! A traditional line rangoli can be converted into a mayil kolam ( mayil is pecock in Tamil ) Majestic peacocks around traditional rangoli Peacocks design without dots through photos for Diwali, New Year T hough it is simple I have added pics to show the steps so that you can try for Deepavali or New Year decoration.  We can also draw such designs for Navarathri golu Draw the clover leaf like patterns first  This is the peacock rangoli without colours Peacock is our national bird and birds are associated with freedom....

First an 8 by 8 dot rangoli design                                                                  This is actually inspired by Maharastrian rangoli designs with dots that are usually drawn with a square grid - 8 by 8 dots in this case.  The patterns are also created with straight lines instead of the combination of straight and curved lines we usually find in kolam.  However square grids are also common in kolam and so are designs with only straight lines. Square dot rangoli pic 1 Square dot rangoli image 2 Next is a 8 by 1 dot pattern sangu kolam  8 to 1 dot rangoli design The rangoli above is with 8 to 1 dot pattern.  Though it is common to see such shankh designs the patterns the shankh are sometimes drawn for creating what different from what I usually draw. The rangoli below is ...