| Take a walk, or drive through the bustling
markets of Madras. Ask your guide for options. It’s
the best way to experience the color and culture of the
city! Fruits, vegetables, flowers, sarees, gold, diamonds,
incense, handicrafts, metalware the list is endless!
Watch a Kolam being drawn
Kolam is the most widespread and important kind of
female artistic expression in India. It is also a classic
example of how art is intertwined in the everyday life
of Indian women.
Early at sunrise, women and girls clean the ground
in front of their houses. They first outline an intricate
geometrical pattern with individual dots, and then draw
lines around these dots. No brushes or paints are used,
rice flour or rice paste is used and the kolam is drawn
with bare fingers.
Ideally, a kolam consists of one single uninterrupted
line, but there are some variations. Originally purely
geometric, kolam has evolved into a complex, almost
mathematical art with its own rules. According to these
rules, the most intriguing patterns may be composed.
Let us know if you would like to see a demonstration.
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