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.
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.
