Photos

The kolams are geometric designs drawn on the ground in front of homes in the south-east of India. They are called rangolis or alponas in other regions of India, and they are also known in other asian countries.
These traditionnal designs, usually abstract but that can also represent vegetals or animals, are drawn on the ground on the doorsteps of houses, shops or temples in order to decorate and protect it and the people in it.
Every morning, in all the villages and cities, a woman of the house washes away the drawing of the day before and makes a new one using her hands or small ustensils, and using rice or chalk powder. The designs are either left as white drawings or colored inside with a whole variety of colours. Their size can go from 10-20cm to several metres in diametre.
I am always impressed by the complexity of these geometrical shapes that are made only from memory, without any draft sketch, by women whose main occupation is not to be artists.
You will find many other kolams and rangolis by searching on TrekEarth.