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...

  Padi kolam designs of Tamil Nadu ( Awesome traditional rangoli with lines ) Traditional padi kolam are popular in South India. They have very simple and repetitive patterns.  For example, in the first rangoli aas square is formed with parallel and perpendicular lines.    The space at the centre has some simple decorations.- traditional designs or padi kolams (as they are termed in Tamil)  They are considered to be  auspicious.  It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi likes them very much.  Though they are simple without decorations or colours, tradition has it that they are drawn  for auspicious occasions. Since Rangoli-sans-dots is about rangoli without dots, primarily, posting of such designs is to show the wide variety of designs that are available to us as also because of the importance accorded to this type for marriages and other such functions (in Tamil Nadu, I hope it so in many other parts also ). They are popular in sou...

This kolam uses 9 to 1 dots ner pulli.  We get a beautiful pattern at the centre with simple designs on either side.  As usual the steps shown through pictures.  Invariably I add the position of the hand to show in which direction the kolam is progressing. When I share these designs on social media some say it is" rocket science , I can never do it ".  My request would be to practise.  Practice makes a (wo)man perfect.  Of course ,we humans with all our failings can aim at near perfection , we may not be perfectly perfect ! For those of you who are seeing this type of rangoli designs for the first time the rules are - the lines go around the dots , lines can intersect only once  This kolam uses 9 dots 3 rows then 3 by 3 dots on either side Try this design at the vasal for Monday or Tuesday  I do not use it for my Vellikizhamai kolangal. Next kambigal kolam is with 9 to 1 dots ner pulli.  As most of these designs n...

Step by step images to draw these beautiful traditional rangoli designs  A beautiful  9 pulli kambi kolam ( in Tamil for twisted rangoli )  through pics  T he dot pattern is 9 dots 5 rows, 5 dots 2 rows then one extra dot on all four sides  Kambi kolam are the best kolam designs for our daily vasal kolam because once we practice we can draw small  and even some relatively big designs quite easily and in very little time.   An important factor to be taken into account since time is a premium for us nowadays.   Most kambi kolam have bilateral symmetry.  i.e they are symmetrical when viewed from two planes. When we travel by road through villages and towns these variety of kolam are ubiquitous. It is in cities that  we should revive this tradition of drawing kolam daily. Call them gantina rangoli , melikala muggulu in Kannada and Telugu respectively, these classical rangoli designs  may rank among the best in the world of...