187- Kolam and Rangoli, a photo from Karnataka, South

Photographer's Note

In my last post 186, I didn't comment on the coloured pattern in the foreground. Well, Lakshmi1949, who is from Karnataka, told me about RANGOLI, which taught me about this tradition I had noticed during my stay ; but I hadn't quite understood its meaning.

Here is a condensed version of Lakshmi's explanations : " These are a must in Hindu families of Southern India. Rangolis are drawn on door steps, by the women every morning before sunrise. The front of the house is cleaned with water, and the kolam or rangoli is drawn using dry rice flour while the ground is still wet. Rangoli are the coloured patterns, like in my pic 186, rang meaning : colour. (Explanation given to me by Angshu.)
In olden days, kolam used to be drawn in coarse rice flour or grains in order to feed small creatures like ants, birds etc...thus inviting other beings into one's home : A daily tribute to harmonious coexistence.
It is a sign of inviting all into the home, not the least of whom is Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity...
The lines of the pattern should be completed in order to stop evil spirits from entering into the home. "

I took this picture early one morning, as we were going down to the river to watch the people's and elephant's early bath.
The lady had only just started her rangoli, before opening her shop. The dots are first drawn as locating marks for creating the design.
The patterns have been passed on from mother to daughter through generations.

I have added two WS of rangoli that had attracted my attention, as we first arrived in Bangalore on Sunday February 12th.

And HERE, I advise you to watch a video which will show the extraordinary skill of the women.
THIS VIDEO is a little longer, but so spectacular !

lakshmip1949, Royaldevon, sacimar, danos, papagolf21, gildasjan, Didi, geoant68, ikeharel, jlbrthnn, Tigerlily, clic, fabbs99 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2012-05-06 4:20

Hello Marie,

A nice image showing the woman drawing the kolam effortlessly. The designs of the three she has finished are simple but she is drawing a bit harder one. I like the Sharpness and atmosphere. I like her concentration.

Lakshmi

mmohan (738) 2012-05-06 4:27

Hi Marie
This is a very common ritual but as you say needs great skill.
Should we call this courtyard Art?
Your composition is simple and effective
Regards,
Manoj

chrisvek (5515) 2012-05-06 5:07

Hello MarieLouise

Very nice shoot of the area of South India.Very nice composition and clever look/POV.Perfect result of your shoot.TFS

Have a nice evening
Chris

chrislo (2173) 2012-05-06 8:38

Bonjour Marie-Louise,
Au-delà de faire de belles photos, le but de ce site est aussi d'échanger des connaissances. Je découvre, grâce à cette image, une coutume très intéressante dont j'ignorais l'existence et que je te remercie de nous faire partager. Les traditions ont la vie dure, et comme on le voit ici, aujourd'hui encore, de nombreux gestes sont entourés de superstitions. Ton objectif a saisi un geste rituel emprunt de signification, et c'était là l'essentiel. Merci encore du partage.
Amicalement,
Christian

mesutilgim (68036) 2012-05-06 9:46

Hello Marie Loise,
What a nice entry ! Not only photographycally but also with many interesting notes it's a perfect TE entry.
In some parts of Turkey (Mediterranean and Aegean shores) we have also a similar tradition, which is only utilised once a year: people believe that they shall have good luck and much money, if they break a pommegrante on the entrance of their door on the morning of 1st January every year.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Royaldevon (17811) 2012-05-06 10:00

Thank you for this most interesting note, MarieLouise. I enjoyed watching the video. The girl was obviously very proficient in the artistry, making no mistakes or hesitations.
You photograph is not only sharply focussed but it is very well composed. In this sort of situation, the composition is an instinct, it is felt rather than taught.
Bravo.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

sacimar (25957) 2012-05-07 6:06

Hola Marie-Louise,

interesante series de imagenes y explicaciones, un buen ejemplo detalles diarios en otras culturas, me gusta la imagen, escogiste un buen momento,

Un saludo,

Sergio

danos (74064) 2012-05-07 9:43

Hello Marie-Louise,
a good reportage shot from the city with the woman to design the shapes from Rangoli in front of her house to protect it from the coming evil spirits to come into.Informative your note as the video in the link.The WS complete perfect the whole image about it.

Regards,Danos

marcan44 (6223) 2012-05-07 13:42

Ciao Marie Louise,
grazie per avere condiviso con noi questa bella usanza molto curiosa della farina di riso sull'uscio di casa tramandata da padre in figlio.
Il concetto della convivenza armoniosa di tutti gli esseri del creato è bellissima, peccato che per molti popoli sia una utopia.
Buona serata, cara amica
Un caro saluto
Mario

UlfE (13732) 2012-05-10 10:42

Hi Marie-Louise,

A very nice photo and very useful and interesting note. Great to see that there are various ways to learn about the world in this site and that other Members could contribute to a useful note. Your composition is excellent not the least because of the rectangular format. In particular I like your position of the lady. She fits perfectly in the upper left corner. TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

papagolf21 (76611) 2012-05-11 2:57

Bonjour, chère Marie-Louise,
Des photographies qui ont vraiment toute leur place sur le site. Apprendre par la photographie.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié la note d'accompagnement.
Il semblerait que cette façon de faire ce genre de dessin est une tradition transmise de mère en fille.
Excellent !
Amitiés.
Philippe

gildasjan (38232) 2012-05-11 9:50

Bonsoir MarieLouise
Un format qui met bien en valeur la position de cette femme dans le cadre.Ici les teintes bleues des vêtements et du volet à l'arrière plan créent une bonne harmonie de couleurs en douceur avec les les teintes du sol et celle des murs à droite de cette image.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
gildas

Didi (48938) 2012-05-13 1:41

Bonjour Marie Louise
Ce merveilleux pays où il est facile de photographier les scènes de la vie quotidienne sans attirer le courroux de la population.
Jolie scène où le sujet est concentré sur sa mystérieuse tâche.
Sincères amitiés

geoant68 (3450) 2012-05-17 5:32

Hello Marie-Loise,
the view of the painting waman in front of her house making of all these disigns make the image so interesting with these specific mores of South India.
Rangoli were not just a medium of decoration but it reduces negative energy and add positivity to places where it made according to Wikipedia,
Peter

ikeharel (37424) 2012-05-23 7:49

Bonsoir MarieLouise,
Nice moment taken, tradition i thought about from the begining: Lakshmi gave a best possible explanation.
POV maybe should be taken on an a skew angel to see more of the door, if possible - nevertheless, fine taken to show some unusual to us, western's...
Au revoir,
Ike

jlbrthnn (79773) 2012-05-24 10:57

Bonjour Marie-Louise,
La photo est de qualité, son sujet est très intéressant. la vidéo spectaculaire permet d'apprécier cet art traditionnel. Excellente composition colorée et nette. Bravo.
Bonne sfin de journée
Amicalement
Joël

manatee (4642) 2012-05-26 1:18

Muy interesante la nota para poder entender la foto pasada y esta, excelente. Esa es una de las cosas que me gustaría conocer de India sus tradiciones, creo que México e India tienen muchas cosa en común y esta es una de ellas son muy rico en tradiciones, en música y en comida. Me gusta como tomaste a esta mujer en su pose aunque no es la mejor para posar, es muy natural y eso me gusta.
Gracias

aliabazari (10105) 2012-05-28 22:51

Salut MarieLouise
Documentaire très agréable avec une vue spectaculaire. L'exposition est très bonne et le personnel de planification. Lovely.

Merci et salutations

Tigerlily (2343) 2012-06-10 3:18

Excellentlly captured image, beautiful tone. I have watched the link, it is really fascinating. A great piece of history, culture and art. Thank you very much for sharing.

polpo56 (15121) 2012-06-18 1:07

Ciao Marie Luise,
hai fatto veramente un bel reportage dall'India, complimenti!

Bellissima questa foto della donna che traccia i disegni in terra davanti alla propria casa, soprattutto dopo aver letto nella tua interessante nota il significato che quei disegni rivestono.

Un caro saluto

Ludo

Silvio1953 (98259) 2012-06-18 1:28

Ciao Maria Luisa, bella ed interessante, ottimi anche i WS con il dattaglio delle intricate figure, splenddia nitidezza e magnifici colori, brava, ciao Silvio

clic (11045) 2012-06-19 13:27

Bonjour Marie Louise.
Une note et photo des plus intéressantes concernant cette coutume locale et je souhaite que ces lignes qui seront tirées empêcherons la famille y habitant de faire usage des cartes de crédit suggérées au mur, le pire des démons pour la consommation compulsive!
Amicalement.
Robert

Aruns (143) 2012-06-27 23:34

Hi Marie, wonderful capture of mrning scene in many houses in South India! It is calllem kolam in Tamil and is sually done with ppwdered white stone. There is another variety with rice flour usually done inside the house or smooth floors and sometimes in liquid form. Well done

Angshu (51174) 2012-06-29 3:21

Hello again dear MarieLouise!
I don't know whether these can be really be classified as 'Rangoli' in its true form, because the word 'Rang' means colour & in such drawings the colour is missing. But yes, this is the preliminary stage or design which forms the starting point of a Rangoli. In my part of India, this art os called Alpana or Alpona & generally are without colours.

Nice picture though I think you could have cropped the top part of the picture just below all the distracting signages!
Best Regards
Angshuman

pajaran (36282) 2012-08-12 23:52

Dobar dan.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst, o mestu, i narodnom obicaju ...
Dobra ostrina snimka i kontrast, lepe boje.
Dobra kompozicija, i trenutak narodnog obicaja.
Lep trenutak u dvoristu, ujutru.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Srecno.
Paja.

Bonjour.
Très intéressant et personnalisée bonne, sur un lieu, et le folk ...
Bonne netteté de l'image et le contraste, belles couleurs.
Bonne composition, et un moment de coutumes nationales.
Un beau moment dans la cour, dans la matinée.
Have a nice day, tout le meilleur dans la nouvelle semaine a commencé.
Bonne chance.
Paja.

fabbs99 (5533) 2012-10-07 10:25

Hello Marie,

I liked your explanation about Indian traditions.The lady is doing her daily ritual with a lot of dedication.Fine natural colours and good composition.Very well done.TFS.

Best Regards
Farhat