Chantal Jumel - Chantal Jumel

Kolam to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna

Of the various kolam created on Gokulashtami, drawing the feet of baby Krishna is a custom in Tamil-Nadu and a sign of welcoming the Divine at home. I have always been moved by the women printing with their fists dipped in wet rice flour, tiny footprints from the threshold to the altar.

Kalam/Kerala

Kerala Kalam, "Draw and sing the paintings" — part 1

Almost invisibles, the floor paintings called kalam do not expose themselves to the morning walker's gaze. They are drawn in privacy and focus the attention of the family within the home and of devotees in the temple premises.

Kolam/Rangoli games

Two games inspired by Kolam and Rangoli

Meet Kanaka Ananth and her creative games called KRAZY KOLAM and RANGOLIO. Both are inspired by the fabulous floor painting traditions called kolam and rangoli.

Snake worship

Celebrating Nâga Panchami

The festival of Nâga Panchami is celebrated during the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July, mid-August) in most parts of South India. It is also known as Garuda Panchami, as on the first day, Garuda (an eagle) and the vehicle of God Vishnu, is worshipped along with the serpent-gods.

Kalam/Kerala

Kerala Kalam, Pulluvanpattu "To protect mother and child"— part 1

Although Western medicine has long been part of the Kerala landscape, there are still communities of ritual painters whose hereditary task equates them to medicine-men. Pulluvanpattum was once an exorcism and its ceremonial paintings were designed for an essentially therapeutic purpose.

Kalam/Kerala

Kerala Kalam, "Painting the Serpent Gods"— part 3

In Sarppam thullal rituals, images of the Snake-Gods vary depending on whether they appear in a one, five or seven-day ceremony. Beyond a one-day rite, the kalam are invariably white in the morning, yellow at noon, and of five colours for the evening one.

Kalam/Kerala

Kerala Kalam, "Pulluvan honouring the serpent-gods"— part 2

In the backyard of the house, which served as a school, an immense floor painting of a snake coiled around a tree was rising from the ground under the skilful gestures of several crouching men.

Kalam/Kerala

Kerala Kalam, "Pulluvan and snake worship"— part 1

In India, snakes are highly revered and enjoy a prolific profile in Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain legends. Guardians of underground treasures, water spirits, and rainmakers, they are raised to the status of deities.

Covid-19/rangoli

Kolam, creating awareness during a pandemic

Since March 2020, kolam artists and other folk masters have added another dimension to their traditional themes, reinterpreting the pandemic according to their culture and traditions.

Shivaratri festival

Shivaratri, the night of Shiva — part 2

In his most subtle form, he is equal to the undifferentiated Absolute, and when he voluntarily creates, it is together with Shakti, his equally powerful feminine counterpart. In a cosmic dimension, Shiva the Absolute, takes the form of a phallic-shaped lingam.

Shivaratri festival

Shivaratri, the night of Shiva — part 1

Of the three major divinities of the Hindu pantheon, Shiva’s role is to act as the Destroyer of the universe. But unlike Vishnu, he does not incarnate each time the world is threatened but instead assumes several disguises: a beggar, a criminal, a hunter, a holy yogi, or a benevolent guru.

Kolam/Tamil Nadu

Tamil Kolam, "Books and references"

A selection of books on Kolam written by researchers, kolam artists and art lovers.

Ratha Saptami

Ratha Saptami/Surya Jayanti

Several festivals are dedicated to Surya, the Sun god. He is celebrated during the harvest festival of Pongal in South India and elsewhere in India as Makar Sankranti. During the month of Mâci in Tamil-Nadu (mid-February, mid-March), Ratha Saptami is another celebration of the Sun god.

Flower decorations

Blumenhaus Magazine

Flowers and leaf garlands, petals of various hues, shrubs, and roots find their way every morning into open air markets within close proximity to the temples. Regardless of whether it is their ephemeral beauty or the symbolism that Indian flowers convey, I wanted to write about them.

Kolam/Tamil Nadu

Kolam to celebrate Mattu Pongal — part 3

On Mattu Pongal day, the farmers buy their cows new bright halters, bells to adorn their hooves, brass cap horn ornaments, wreaths of fresh flowers, pom-pom garlands and multi-coloured beads to adorn their neck. They decorated the cow's coat in variations according to districts.

Month of Thai

Kolam to celebrate Surya Pongal — part 2

The pot is a symbol of abundance and a recurring theme as well in the kolam designs during pongal. It is either shown with rice balls that pile up on top of each other or with milk froth foaming out of the mouth, like the overflowing milk rice preparation.

Month of Thai

Kolam to celebrate Pongal — part 1

The month of Thai starts with the most celebrated and joyful harvest festival called Pongal. The kolam extend beyond the intimacy of the homes, spreading their lines and dots into public space. It is women who weave together the objects of a bountiful period on white or coloured canvasses.

Month of Margazhi

The divine month of Margazhi — part 4

The lesser known Nacciyar Tirumoli is made up of 14 hymns divided into 143 verses. Here, a tearful and anxious Andal addresses her prayers through a fine sand mandala to Manmathan or Kamadeva the god of love, asking him to fulfil her deepest wish: to unite her with Kannan (Krishna).

Month of Margazhi

The divine month of Margazhi — part 3

In 2018, I drew a kolam of Andal as a girl and she remains my favourite image; she walks confident just before she performs the month long pavai nombu (a short-term penance). Thus, I began this 30-day journey with Andal. I would live through her eyes and it was a wholesome spiritual experience.

Christmas kolam

Merry Christmas from Tamil-Nadu

Although kolam is a Hindu ritual, we find them in Christian homes and churches as well. During the Christmas season, walking around the streets of many Tamil cities or villages, one may find here and there Christmas theme kolam and rangoli.

Month of Margazhi

The divine month of Margazhi — part 2

To day, the living presence of Sri Andal, continues to stimulate the imagination of kolam artists. The ecstatic lines centred on Krishna and his deeds convey with simplicity and depth the passionate quest for enlightenment.

Month of Margazhi

The divine month of Margazhi — part 1

I met a group of women attached to Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore. They belong to the Vaishnava tradition and often gather to create paintings on religious themes. At this time of the year, they have chosen to draw Sri Andal.

Inspiring kolam artists

Onam with Jaya Mohan

Pookalam or floral carpets are an integral part of the celebrations to welcome the return of the legendary king. This year, Jaya Mohan shares with us her poetical flower carpets done at home.

Chantal Jumel

Kolam: Art and science of sacred geometry

Chantal Jumel

Understanding South India, Kolam by Kolam – Chantal Jumel

I was brought up in bilingual family and as a child my favourite book was “Contes et légendes de l’Inde” (tales and legends of India), “The River”, a film by Jean Renoir attracted me to India.