"Kolam" exhibit at ARTS at King Street station, Feb 5-28, 2026.

“Kolam” is a traditional floor art from South India. Geometric patterns are created with rice flour at the threshold of a house. This is a ritual – done every morning, to welcome everything that is good, into the home.

Last Fall, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture approved my application to present kolams at their gallery ARTS at King Street station. This exhibit “Kolam” will be on display at the gallery until Feb 28^th – do come by!  (website:  https://www.seattle.gov/arts/experience/galleries/arts-at-king-street-station-gallery ).

As a child, I watched my mother create kolams daily. She would draw one at the threshold. The rice flour would invite ants, insects and sometimes birds too, all of which was very interesting and exciting for the 3 year old me! She had one more space in which she would create another kolam, usually right after her shower. This was at the family altar. She had a small, round, black, polished granite stone. She would wipe out the previous day’s kolam and create a new one, light a lamp and offer prayers.

At some point, I started trying out kolams myself, imitating her, learning from her and then trying out my own patterns.  Festive occasions meant larger kolams were created and I recall enjoying watching the process or being a part of it.

When I moved to the USA, to pursue a Master's degree, the entire scenery changed! I was, during that winter (my first winter!), in cold Illinois. So, there was no question of creating a kolam on the threshold! And unlike my mother, I was not religious, so I did not setup an altar. And just like that, kolam creation stopped.

Much later, during the pandemic, I had the opportunity to attend several classes online. Professional dancers and musicians offered advanced classes, which I attended (I teach Indian classical dance and music). I noticed kolam classes also being offered and signed up, excited about restarting creating kolams! Every day, while my kids attended school online and my husband worked from home, in addition to continuing with my teaching, I also attended classes – dance, music and kolam! I had the time and bandwidth to create a kolam daily, now that I was not commuting anywhere for anything!

As I stepped into the world of kolams as an adult, I realized how meditative this art form was for me! Well, this is actually true of any art form, I’d say! Whether one practices the art or even quietly watches an artist as they create, it is all very meditative. I also realized then that the kolams I saw back in my childhood home were a reflection of my mother’s own state of mind. Sometimes, it would be the same kolam on consecutive days. On some days, it would be a hurried scribble. On others, an unhurried, new creation! 

I realized that while creating a kolam is meditative, it also requires physical fitness – the kolam  is created on the floor and one goes around it, to continue and expand it on all sides. The larger the kolam, the higher the fitness level required! 

For the ARTS at King Street Station, I made some trips ahead of the install, to measure the space allocated to me and to try out some kolams of different sizes.  I saw a large circular carpet and drew an outline around it, as it was an easy way to get the circle right for a big kolam. Once I got the outline and started trying out some patterns, I realized that creating a kolam in a circular shape with a 10 feet diameter was quite a workout! It would have taken me a good 2-3 hours to complete it!

I appreciate that the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture was curious about this art form and decided to shine the spotlight on kolams! By shining the spotlight on kolams, the ARTS at King Street station also draws the spotlight to itself as the FIRST gallery in the USA to present kolams, in its natural, traditional way – on the floor, using white stone powder!

 Thank you, everyone on this team, for being open and promoting art forms from around the world!  I had the opportunity to work with James Coley and Rana San on this exhibit – it has been a pleasant journey, as they both have been patient and efficient, courteously guiding me on my installation. The gallery itself is a well-maintained space – serene & quiet, with the very low, barely perceptible rumble of a train arriving, now and then.

I am delighted and touched that the team made a poster for the event with this photo of mine at my first dance recital.  It is a particularly beautiful memory for me – when I wore my “salangai” for the first time (anklets that Indian classical dancers wear during a recital). It was a milestone for me, as it was a recognition from my teachers that I had learnt the rhythm aspects well and was ready to present my dance in public. On the morning of this recital, which was at my teacher’s home studio, my mother created this kolam using a paste made of rice powder with water. That allowed it time to dry and it formed the stage floor for  me for the recital later that afternoon!  The photo was taken by my father.

 From last Fall, when I received email about “Kolam” being a part of the “We still dream a future” initiative by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, I have restarted creating kolams regularly.  I invite you to visit the exhibit! If it is resonates and you are enthused to try out kolams, do join me at the classes I will be offering soon! This might turn out to be the mindful morning activity you need to add to your routine!

Photos by Marcus Donner, official photographer for the event, opening of “Kolam”, Feb 5^th, 5.00 pm at ARTS at King Street Station, by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.