North Mada Street, normally packed with hawkers, pedestrians and traffic, came alive with intricate patterns on Saturday evening for the kolam competition organised as part of the Mylapore Festival.
The competition, which has been an integral part of the festival since its inception, saw nearly 90 participants drawing kolam patterns in the designated space. Additionally, the organisers had also given children an opportunity to participate and nearly 25 children registered to showcase their kolam -drawing skills.
K. Surekha, who had come from Nanganallur, said that she was a regular participant. “While rangoli or even free-hand designs can be drawn by everyone, the ‘ pulli kolams’ or patterns with dots are much more complex,” she said.
Intricate designs
With spots assigned and a time limit set, the participants got to work on their kolams from 3.45 p.m.
The roads were cordoned off and tourists stopped by to snap pictures and talk to the participants about their kolams . Using the ‘ pulli kolam’ format, one participant also managed to draw a sketch of Thiruvalluvar.
“More than winning, there is something lovely about participating and drawing as most people come and tell us how happy they feel to see the designs slowly come to life,” said A. Govindarajan, a resident of Adyar. As many as 15 participants were selected and given prizes for their kolams and from the children’s division, five children took home prizes.
Jayalakshmi Mohan, a resident of Tambaram who won a prize, said that she had been participating in the competition for the last three years.
“Most of us keep drawing kolams outside our homes throughout the month of Margazhi . I generally select a design and ensure that I’m familiar with it. The experience of drawing kolam here with so many other participants is what makes it exciting for many of us,” she said.
The kolam competition and a rangoli contest will be held again on Sunday.
