Kolam by Sudha Balaji

 This is a special Bhogi rangoli idea - drawing 2 lines of different colours.  Double line rule is the same for both types - with one colour ( usually white ) or two  colours as shown  Pick the rangoli powder ( one colour each on the tip of the index finger and  next finger ) close with the thumb and push .   Simultaneously move the arm to draw the lines.   One line falls between the index and next fingers, the other line falls outside the index finger. This image ( close up ) shows how to draw two lines .  Use of thumb is shown . If you like to know more about this rare difficult rangoli technique you may visit  2 lines kolam with 2 colours  The information in this post may be useful if you are looking for a)Double line rangoli images b) Simple double line rangoli  One of the rarest and most beautiful methods of creating traditional kolam with lines , is more beautiful if the lines are discrete I think I 'invented" this techni...

  kolam around a plate - traditional decoration for wedding  Turmeric powder is mixed white rangoli powdeer  till the colour turns yellowish.  Simple decorations  Lotus patterns before the banana leaf or plate.  Turmeric powder is considered to be auspicious hence it is added to the kola podi.   Some designs are given in the images. Also drawn at home for festivals. This is a double or rettai ezhai kolam - the two ezhai or lines drawn simultaneously.. I have shown images of rangoli designs drawn before a banana leaf ( vazhai ilai decoration  ).  Traditionally this leaf is used for serving meals for weddings and other functions.   For important festivals like Varalakshmi Vratham, Ganesh Chathurti, Navaratri there is also a tradition of decorating the banana leaf or plate on which the naivedyam is served to the family members with this type of kolam. For the leaves on which the bride and bridegroom dine , more elaborate kolam ca...

A collection of simple muggulu designs on gadapa or side designs for your reference.  What I have shared is what I learnt from my mother.   She insisted on drawing wriggled lines on both sides of the straight lines on the door step  If you are searching for   a) gadapa muggulu latest designs or  b) main door gadapa muggulu designs You may find these images useful. We have a tradition of performing Pooja to the doorstep or doorway with flowers , haldi and kumkum  It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides there. Any Pooja requires drawing of rangoli designs .  We need suitable rangoli for the space available due to the narrow width. Some draw with chalk or use stickers but  I draw the traditional way with white muggu pindi .  This is my preferred method.   Two versions of the floral designs - one lotus and another simple floral petals.  Decorate with kaavi if it is according to your tradtion. Gadapa muggulu designs fo...

  New simple  rangoli making tips for Dhanteras , Bhai Dooj In an earlier post, I shared how to use two different colours on a rangoli stencil to create quick and easy rangoli. I have tried something different here.  Bina dot rangoli patterns plus stencil.  Regimentation suppresses creativity.   It is possible to have more variations also and that will be tried in Rangoli-sans-dots. I think you will agree that we find it very painful to erase a rangoli .  In the image the space at the centre in black is filled with colours , free hand patterns. The colour in the background is obtained by erasing a previous colourful rangoli .  It is a mixture of various colours.   I have used a rangoli stencil on this background and added free hand patterns around the circle.    Only the centre part of a stencil has been used. How to create beautiful rangoli with both techniques i.e using stencil and free hand (without chukki ) designs is demo...

 I have tried this beautiful rangoli making technique using the traditional method of drawing kolam.   The main difference is that in kolam we draw the design and then fill with colours whereas when we draw sanskar bharti rangoli designs for Diwali. We fill the colours first and draw the patterns with white rangoli powder.  The two images show sanskar bharti rangoli designs for beginners.  Using colours like green, pink, red with patterns like lotus, spirals the rangoli has been created.    I have added more patterns outside also. The influence of kolam can be seen of course. The usual method of filling the colours in the semi-circles or circles is draw the pattern with a piece of chalk tied to a thread.  Then fill with a tea filter.  I have made semi circles directly with the colours themselves as we usually do in kolam designs.   The picture below demonstrates how. The image below shows how we can use this technique for a corner ...

 Wet   Arisi maavu kolam or alpona borders Rangoli has  synonyms in the art forms  arisi maavu kolam (rangoli made with rice flour paste )and Alpona.   Both are somewhat similar..                                                                        Alpona for beginners Arisi maavu kolam translated means rangoli drawn with rice flour.  It can be drawn with dry or wet rice flour.   However  I discuss here wet rice flour rangoli since the technique is similar to that of traditional  alpona  ( I understand it  is also drawn with rice flour paste) The thickness/consistency of the rice flour paste varies according to rangoli making method adopted.   We can use fingers or a cloth dipped in rice flour paste to draw the kolam. At present ready...

How to combine rangoli stencil and free hand rangoli design a unique Diwali decoration ideas "You are awesome.  It is relaxing to watch you run the kolam.  Made 2 of  your small kolam.  Thanks for sharing " This is one of the many comments I receive on my Facebook Page Rangoli sans dots.  I belong to the traditional school  of making rangoli called kolam in Tamil.  Kolam means beauty particularly beauty in symmetry. Drawing traditional kolam  comes with practice particularly the dexterity part. Still I have to share some simple techniques for those who want to try this art for the first time. Hence this post Instead of drawing the designs only with stencils,  after drawing the main design with stencil I have added some patterns  with rangoli powder .  Hope you will find this simple tip interesting and useful and will try it too.  Sprinkle colour rangoli  to one half of the stencil and then white or  any other matching...

  Every day in the morning , we draw simple patterns on the doorstep before making kolam at the entrance.   We need simple and unique designs for this place too.   I have shared some.  In the first image - 3 simple front door rangoli designs The simple borders can decorate doorways or small spaces.  They can also be used around bigger rangoli designs that are drawn for festivals like Bhogi                        We can try small gadapa designs with flowers and leaf patterns              We can try the next pic for our mane bagilu rangoli                              Lotus and birds combination, I use in my regular rangoli designs too                         One of the simplest and beautiful rangoli border design in the p...

 Rangoli tips - To get a compact rangoli  place the dots as closely as possible .  This way we can accommodate it even in small spaces                                           The dot pattern is 10,9,8,7,8,9,10 and 3,2,1 dots on either side Place the dot grid, draw the pattern at the centre,  connect the edges to get  hexagons                                All lines are drawn outside the dot grid and are do not connect the dots A variation by drawing lines with different colours instead of white kolam can be tried These chukki rangoli designs with dots when used with diya patterns as shown  can be drawn for Diwali also  To get an awesome rangoli design draw the lines without joints .  This point I invariably stress in many posts. 

The first rangoli appears to be simple . Appearances can be deceptive. The step shown in the second image can be a bit tricky for some of us. Many sikku kolam are. 9 by 9 chukki rangoli                    These designs are ubiquitous during Dhanrumasa in southern part of our country                   Draw the white rangoli or add colourful borders around if you have space.                 11 to 1 chukki rangoli step by step           An image showing an intermediate step              These types of rangoli designs are not only awesome , they also  can challenge us  If you are looking for 9 pulli sikku kolam , 11-1 sikku kolam you may find the step by step images useful.  Dhanurmasa or Margazhi month between December 15 and January 15 every year is famous of bhajans and r...

This blog post may have answers to 1) How to draw rangoli with dots 2) How to draw muggulu with dots .  One of the bigger rangoli created by me. Dot pattern is 15 to 1 . Number of dots decreases viz. ( 15,13,9,7,5,3,1) Though  it is with 15 dots it is relatively easy to draw.   The patterns below the neck (that represent the wings! are drawn first on the four sides.   The beauty of this kolam lies in the symmetry of the patterns.   One of the advantages or creating rangoli designs is that the result may be a unique rangoli.   Actually I thought of drawing butterflies and flowers but changed the theme to birds and flowers.   Floral patterns are congruous with pakshi or titli ( occasionally I use other languages too  to describe the patterns ).                 Floral designs at the corners for this beautiful chukki rangoli                  ...

 This post may give information on - gadapa muggulu simple designs , easy rangoli border. A collection of  9 white muggulu designs in these images.  Decorate your homes with these traditional designs.   All are  without chukki rangoli. Happy creating ! Since the space available is minimum , simple designs are usually preferred.   It is evident from the images that the simplest of borders have been shared.   White rangoli designs have been shared.   Decorate with turmeric paste or geru ( ochre ) as per your tradition and convenience.  Flowers, leaves, mango leaves , parallel lines are some of the commonly used ideas.             Free hand flower and leaf combination in the pic above                                   Without chukki rangoli borders for festivals like Dasara, Pongal    Can also be u...