Peacock - based Kolam

Here is the kolam based on our Beautiful National bird of India. 

Embroidery Design

Shivarathiri Festival Kolam

Why Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of Linga?        

           Once upon a time Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu started quarreling. The topic was that who is stronger between them. Then Lord Shiva appeared as a Linga and said whoever reaches the top of the Linga will be declared the winner. Both of them started to climb on the Linga but none of them reached the top. From that day it was declared that Lord Shiva is the strongest of all. And this form of Shiva is mostly worshiped.

Why is Shivarathiri celebrated?

           According to a legend, Parvati performed tapas, prayed and meditated on this day to ward off any evil that might befall her husband on the moonless night. Since then, Maha Shivaratri is believed to be an auspicious occasion for women to pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons.  

          Here is the Kolam of Lord Shiva in the form of Linga drawn at our Pooja room:


 


Here is the same Kolam with two lamps near Lord Shiva: 

Maha Maham Festival Kolam

        Maha Maham is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. This tank is located at the entrance of the Maha Kumbeshwarar temple, Kumbakonam. This festival is celebrated once in twelve years, when the planet Guru (Jupiter) enters Simha (Leo) sign. This festival is celebrated each and every year, which is called Maasi Maham since that festival occurs in the Tamil Month of Maasi (February–March) in the star of Magam. 
         Hindus consider taking a holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on that day as sacred. All the rivers of India are believed to meet at the tank on this day and a purificatory bath in that tank is considered equal to the combined dips in all the holy rivers of India. Deities from all the temples in Kumbakonam arrive at the tank and at noon, all the deities bathe along with the devotees - it is called "Theerthavari".  
          This year, Maasi Maham festival was celebrated on March 7th. On that day, here is the Kolam of Maha Kumbeshwarar at our pooja room.

"ஆதி சிவன் தாள் பணிந்து அருள் பெறுவோமே 

         அந்த ஆதி சக்தி நாயகனின் துணை பெறுவோமே"

Mango - based Kolam

This is a free-hand Kolam (i.e drawn without keeping any dots)
 

Butterfly - based Kolam

This Kolam was drawn with the mixture of Kolam powder and rice powder.