Kolam by Sudha Balaji

There are two ways of drawing a big chikku kolam.  One with big dot grids or using small kolams and connecting them.This kolam uses a common 5 by 5 dots chikku kolam. These type are also called kulam kolam.  Kulam means pond.  The centre of the design represents the pond and the four sides the steps that lead to the pond as we see in temples of Tamil Nadu Big sikku kolam for Margazhi  Big neli kolam for Pongal too They are old and traditional rangoli designs The centre can be filled with designs of our choice.  This design can be expanded infinitely. Another variation of kulam kolam using 4 by 4 dots shown step by step in the pictures below Also called melikala muggulu , kambi kolam  10 pulli chikku kolam The dot pattern is 10 dots 4  rows, then 8,6,4 dots Other names are pinnal kolam , nelivu kolam Though dot patterns are used they are not chukkala muggulu or chukki rangoli.  They differ because the lines go...

Sikku kolam ( சிக்கு கோலங்கள் )  is unique to kolam designs of Tamil Nadu.  Sikku means knot.  It is obvious that one can get tied up in knots when one tries this type of kolam.  Actually the designs posted so far are very simple.  They can be more complicated.  Who ever discovered or invented this variety of kolam, it is a good exercise for the brain not that other varieties are anything less.  The final design is usually symmetrical when viewed from any direction The difference between this type and those with dots is that while in kolam with dots we use up the dots to form a pattern where as in this type it is drawn  around  the dots.  Of course they can be left plain or colours can be added. Small and simple sikku kolam   Let us start with a simple design.  The dot grid used is not standard  with two extra dots on eight sides 6 by 6 dots small sikku kolam Quite an easy and common kolam , like most des...