Kolam by Sudha Balaji

    Rangoli making / Rangoli drawing - double stroke kolam T he first image shows the first step of the rangoli.  I have used only parallel lines drawn simultaneously in this design. Draw four pairs of intersecting lines.   From the ends of each line connect the adjacent line to get the pattern seen above. A very basic design that can by itself used as a simple rangoli for our homes.  The next design has evolved from the previous one.   Draw a parallel line border matching the contours of the first design.  Connect the border and the floral design with as many straight lines as possible The third step of the rangoli is shown below.  Decorate the periphery of the rangoli with floral motifs that are formed using spiral and circular patterns.   Also fill the petals at the centre with simple oval designs.  This is a plain rangoli by itself and can be drawn at entrances.  The rangoli can be filled with colours.  Adding co...

Double stroke or parallel line kolam are a beautiful variety of kolm  ( kolam itself means beauty ) that can be tried for a different type of New Year kolam The rangoli below the first in this series of parallel lines has a design with many curved arms terminating in simple motifs.   The circumference of the rangoli has simple designs that represent birds!.  Drawing birds can be made so simple.  Since this post is devoted only for plain rangolis colours have not been used on any of the designs. These double like kolam designs either with white lines and colours filled inside or drawn with colour kolapodi can be drawn for occasions like weddings, festivals like Navratri, Diwali or Varlakshmi Vratham. The second design is also one that I will use quite often in the early stages of Rangoli-sans-dots.  It has a floral design evolved from a central pattern expanded with petals.  The design is completed with semicircular petals decorated with spiral designs alo...

White rangoli - double line kolam Rangolis adorn our home .  Thousands of designs are possible. Rangolis without dots is my style. Rangoli-sans-dots will focus primarily on free hand rangolis without dots for all auspicious occasions, pooja rooms, mantaps and festivals like Navrathri, Dussehra , Diwali, Sankranti (Pongal).  Most Indians believe drawing of rangolis in homes is auspicious.   This is the first post in Rangoli-sans-dots. More plain rangolis are in plain free hand rangoli , free hand plain rangolis  and   Rangoli literally means rows of colours and hence they are expected to be colourful.   However we cannot totally avoid plain designs (without colour) and hence I will post only a few.    Rangoli-sans-dots has arrived.  It was born on an auspicious day.  It had been there in my mind for a long time. The form and nature could not be decided.   I am thankful to my family members for making it a reality, fo...