When
it's the time for Pongal festivity celebration, almost all the houses in
the entire South India are adorned with beautiful colorful Kolams.
Elaborate designs are drawn using white and other color powders. The
tradition of Kolam making is not new. Infact, it can be traced back to
the times of the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 B.C). Read on to know
more about the Pongal Kolams.In the epic of Mahabharata, it was mentioned that the gopis as in the milkmaids used to draw Kolams to lessen their pain of not having Krishna with them. The art of Kolam making is practiced in almost all the states but known by different names like Alpana in Bengal, Mandana in Rajasthan, Muggulu in Andhra Pradesh, Puvidal in Kerala, Rangoli in Maharashtra and Karnataka and Sanjhi in Uttar Pradesh.
Kolam is not just an aesthetic art, but a means of expressing happiness and prosperity. The rice flour finds its way in the making of Kolam patterns for Pongal. The bright red color that is used to border the Kolam is believed to ward off the evil spirits. On the Pongal festive occasion, the entire family gets engrossed with the task of making Pongal kolam designs. A Kolam may be simplistic in pattern or may consist of intricate patterns.