Kolam

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Kolam in front of a house in Tamil Nadu

A kolam ( Tamil : கோலம் kõlaṁ), malayalam kalam , telugu muggu , is a mostly centrically symmetrical pattern that many women in southern India make every day with white or colored rice flour in the entrance area of ​​their house.

Religious background

Women making a kolam at the Kapaliswarar temple

This Hindu custom is particularly lively in Tamil Nadu and Kerala . In temples too, Kolams - also by women - are freshly applied to places that are used ritually (e.g. in the Minakshi Temple ). The auspicious, downright blessing function of these motifs, which very likely has ancient roots and is probably to be brought into connection with the labyrinth motifs known from other cultures , is thus made clear.

Manufacture

Multi-colored Kolam

The surface is cleaned beforehand with water and cow dung. A number of dots are then applied with rice flour, around which an intertwined unbroken line is made. The artist lets the white flour trickle down between thumb and forefinger. There are also Kolams without a point grid and in different colors. A dispenser was observed in the temple, with which several parallel lines can be applied at the same time in order to be able to quickly produce the complex motif as the procession approaches. There seem to be an infinite number of variants, with every woman having a considerable traditional repertoire. Special designs should be assigned to every weekday and every holiday. Originally from Hindu culture, in recent times one can occasionally find Kolams with Christian motifs such as cross and candles. Ornaments on a wall that are painted on with durable paint can also belong to the Kolam type.

meaning

In the original sense, Kolams are also intended to promote mental disciplines such as contemplation and concentration. This art practiced by women has a complex meaning. The dots are often interpreted as symbols for the tasks of life, while the ornate lines represent the yatra (pilgrimage), the journey through life. Others invite the Naga snake deities with their Kolams , who should then develop their protective, auspicious and fertile powers for the residents of the house. The defense against destructive influences is to be regarded as a primary function of the Kolam. The morning renewal of the pictures is still part of the daily chores for many women, others only take time for it on public holidays. Beautiful, complex kolams are considered an expression of the skill and discipline of women.

Kerala

In Kerala , a kalam is made in the ritual dramas Mutiyettu and Ayyappan tiyatta , which represents the deity for the duration of the performance. In a final act, the main actor destroys the portrait. The remains of paint are collected and given to the believers as prasadam (blessing gift).

Another type of this floor art is the flowered pukkalam in Kerala or Rangoli in northern India.

mathematics

Mathematically, the Kolams can be described with lattice languages , as they are e.g. B. the Indian mathematician developed Gift Siromoney . With this work it is possible to describe a Kolam in such a way that a computer can trace it. Siromoney's method makes a branch of graph theory fruitful for this .

See also

  • Sona (geometric pattern of the South African Bantu)

literature

  • Goetz Hoeppe: technology of enchantment . In: Spectrum of Science Special, 2/2006, Ethnomathematik , p. 52 ff
  • Gift Siromoney, Rani Siromoney, Kamala Krithivasan: Picture languages ​​with array rewriting rules . Information and Control, 22 (5): 447-470, June 1973
  • Gift Siromoney, Rani Siromoney, Kamala Krithivasan: Array languages ​​and kolam . Computer Graphics and Image Processing. 1974, 3: 63-82.
  • Gift Siromoney, R. Chandrasekaran: On understanding certain kolam designs . Second International Conference on Advances in Pattern Recognition and Digital Technique, January 6-9, 1986 at the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta
  • Ralph M. Steinmann: Kōlam: Form, technique and use of a changing ritual folk art Tamilnadu. In: Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, Vol. 113, H. 2, 1988, pp. 207-232

Web links

Commons : Kolam  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. T. Robinson. Department of Mathematics, MCC .: Kolam  ; read on the memorial page for Dr. Poison Siromoney .