Pulli kolam/Kolam with dots

Kolam notebooks

Kamalavathy Kannan has designed two notebooks for you; one with idukku pulli, or dots are aligned in staggered rows and another one with ner pulli or dots lined up in neat rows.

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.

Kolam riddles

Kolam and riddles

Dieter B. Kapp has compiled a list of metaphors relating to the kolam in the form of riddles, sayings and proverbs. Published in the form of a series of booklets, they explore all aspects of Tamil culture, and include a variety of images depicting these ephemeral drawings.

Kolam/Tamil Nadu

The Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival

So women don't hesitate to step outside the home to take part in contests with others who are just as passionate about this art. In my opinion, the most creative contest is the one which takes place in Mylapore, a neighbourhood in Chennai.

Pulli kolam/Kolam with dots

Pulli kolam or kolam with dots

The pulli kolam, or dotted kolam, have many variations which range from the purely geometrical to interlacing lines, stylised representations of animals and plants, benevolent gods with their vehicles or attributes, and votive objects like oil lamps or pots used for offerings.