Multicultural view of Mathematical ideas: South Indian Traditional art named Kolam

Pinch of coloured rice flour, imagination, shapes and patterns are the foundation of South Indian traditional art form named 'Kolam'. 

According to Steen, L. (1985), all cultures have mathematics hidden in their traditions, drawings, writings and many more. Eventhough there are multiple researches conducted about the significance of mathematical knowledge in our current society, the understanding of public about mathematics still lies in abstract level. Analysis of mathematics and development of higher order mathematical skills lies in the application of mathematics in the current world. Therefore, it is vital that we establish a connection between learning and real world scenarios and practices. 

When it comes to the traditional art called 'Kolam', people of South India draws patterns on ground in a symmetric manner to complete this beautiful art as shown in the photo shown above. 

How is this relevant to mathematics is one question that you may have. 

I grew up watching people drawing patterns outside their doors in the morning, and never related this to mathematics. But one thing that I noticed was the symmetry in the patterns, which made me curious to try it myself. There are different types of Kolams - some patterns follow around dots, and some are patterns that are symmetrical. 

In the figure below, we can see that the lines were drawn around the dots while making sure that the lines were drawn in an infinite manner by drawing continuously from the start to the finish.

In this Kolam below, there is symmetry in patterns, which implies that if you divide the Kolam into different parts, each part would look the same. 

According to Kolam and Benefits - Traditions. (n.d.), traditions always begin with a story or an experience of a person, which will then be passed and followed by a community. Kolam is drawn by people infant of their front doors to welcome God and to keep evil away. People in South India practice this tradition everyday morning, to enhance their well-being and to welcome positive vibes to their lives. As Indians practice yoga for maintaining good physical health, it is believed that when people bend their bodies to draw kolam, they are in yogasana, which will help enhance the flow of blood in their bodies early in the morning keeping them energetic and motivated all day. 

It is very difficult to create designs for drawing kolam, and hence it can enhance the creativity and intellectual minds of people while designing and drawings kolam. 

Kolam is a great example to see how mathematics relates to culture and tradition. It is a geometrical drawing which consists of geometric lines and shapes drawn around a dotter pattern drawn on the ground. It is not only Kolam that follow the mathematical ideas and patterns, there is another art form called 'Rangoli' practiced in North India which uses patterns and shapes. 

Stay tuned for more examples of how Mathematics relates to culture and traditions around the world.

References:

1. Kolam and Benefits - Traditions. (n.d.). Tamilnadu Tourism - Delight in Your Holidays; Tamilnadu Tourism. https://www.tamilnadutourism.com/traditions/kolam-and-benefits.php
2. Steen, L. (1985). Mathematics: Our Invisible Culture. http://www.steen-frost.org/Steen/Papers/85invisible.pdf

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