Kolapodi

Kolapodi is a type of flour, made out of limestone, rice flour mixed with limestone powder, brick red powder and finely ground white stone powder. It is used to create floor art in India called kolam. It can be used to make beautiful patterns in front of the house gate, in front of temples and in front of Pooja room.[1]

Colored kolapodi is made by mixing limestone powder with colours. Margazhi is a month for colour kolams. Many people in South India draw kolam with colour kola powder. Kolapodi traders who sell kolapodi and colour kolapodi are the most sought during the Margazhi month of Tamil Calendar and Pongal or Sankaranthi festival. Usually these traders will have 18 different colour kolapodis. Kolapodi makes it easier for women to apply kolam and also makes the kolam look brighter and well finished. Brick red powder also known as "Kaavi" is applied as an outline for kolams especially on special occasions and pooja days.[2]

History

Kolapodi is used to make kolams that are a symbol of auspiciousness. It is a Hindu belief that the geometrical patterns and designs applied with kolapodi at the entrance of a home, invites Goddess Lakshmi into the household and drives away the evil spirits. It is mostly a South Indian tradition practised widely in Tamil Nadu.

Every morning millions of women across South India do a ceremonial act that dates back to several centuries - they will tidy their front yards and decorate the ground at the entry with an intricate design formed out of rice powder or kolapodi. The procedure starts with a powerful sweeping of the front area of the house/steps and slopes followed by an equally robust splashing of water onto the patch that will characteristic of the day. As the water runs off, the method of creation of kolam starts with a few dabs of kolapodi or rice flour. They lay down the kolapodi or white powder aesthetically and the lines are not too thick or too thin. The outcome is a work of art and it changes from day to day.[3]

References
  1. The Hindu, Metro Plus Coimbatore (19 January 2004). "FLOURing creativity". SJR. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. THE HINDU, THE HINDU (15 January 2010). "How art patterns fitness". Metro Plus. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  3. THE HINDU, THE HINDU (31 May 2016). "The irony of the white powder routine". Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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