Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness. That sounds arduous, right? For instance, while a laundry list is being revised in the head, emotions get churned in, and what's left is the bad aftertaste of confusion and unease of the unknown. So, how can the mind be anchored?
Mindfulness practices have existed in many ancient cultures as a part of daily life. One such practice in the south of India is Kolam. In this practice, geometric designs are drawn mostly by women at the thresholds of houses and shops, sacred trees, and Hindu temples.
One of the many reasons for this practice is to feed the ants, birds, and other wandering animals with the rice powder that the kolam is made of. Thus, beginning the day auspiciously with the act of giving. Like most traditional practices, kolam has also been changing with the times, both in design and material. These days, along with rice powder, there is white stone powder, chalk/chalk powder, and synthetic colors.
For me, kolam is a practice of mindfulness. I also enjoy the aesthetics and the challenge of creating a perfect piece of art. The bigger the kolam, the more fun it is!
