KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The intricate artwork of rangoli kolam takes centre stage, attracting a lot consideration, particularly main as much as the Deepavali celebrations.
The traditional ground artwork which makes use of colored rice as one among its primary components welcomes visitors with its vibrant layers of colors and intriguing designs.
The image of prosperity additionally represents harmonious coexistence when edible components are used, feeding ants, birds and small animals.
eNews Malaysia takes a have a look at the artwork of creating rangoli kolam in Malaysia and explores how it has develop into a rising full-time enterprise.
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Conveniency is essential
One of Saravanah polystyrene-based rangoli kolam being displayed at a neighborhood shopping center. — Picture courtesy of HGP Saravanah Rao.
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HGP Saravanah Rao is a kolam maker primarily based in Port Dickson and has been specialising in producing his personal polystyrene-based rangoli kolams since 2010.
The 39-year-old who sees convenience as key in at the moment’s fast-paced way of life goals to maintain the traditions of rangoli kolam alive by offering ready-made kolams that are simple to arrange and time saving.
According to Saravanah, it would take usually round one to 2 hours to supply a standard-sized kolam.
With a polystyrene kolam nonetheless, it solely takes round quarter-hour to finish.
“We present the colored rice and different kolam supplies.
“You simply want to put the polystyrene on the ground and apply the colored rice onto the design.
“Then you can too decide it up and place it wherever you need. It’s simple and received’t have an effect on the design,” he mentioned.
According to Saravanah, it would solely take round 15-minutes to complete making a polystyrene-base rangoli kolam in comparison with traditional ones which might take as much as one hour. — Picture courtesy of HGP Saravanah Rao.
He added that with polystyrene kolam, it minimises the danger of the kolam getting spoiled by individuals unintentionally stepping on it which regularly happens.
Saravanah, who normally gives his ready-made kolams in bulk to native money and carry outlets in addition to on on-line buying platforms mentioned that his enterprise has been steadily rising over time and experiences excessive demand throughout Deepavali.
Charging between RM40 to RM50 for a typical 20 by 20 inches kolam, the modern take of the artform is available in quite a lot of designs and motifs together with floral and animal designs.
He first launched his polystyrene base kolam at his sister’s celebration again in 2010 and it garnered consideration from kin and associates who started placing in requests for it.
Despite having acquired unfavourable suggestions on his new type of kolam through the early days of his enterprise, Saravanah mentioned that the assist he has acquired from the general public has outweighed it all.
Going locations with passio
Mogenes has been making rangoli kolam professionally since she was 17-year-old. — Picture courtesy of Mogenes.
For 28-year-old Mogenes, watching her mom design rangoli kolams at residence early within the morning each Deepavali since she was a toddler has contributed vastly to her curiosity within the traditional artwork.
Intrigued by the colorful kolams she noticed, Mogenes started studying to make her personal kolam by the age of 12.
At the age of 17, she began getting into kolam-making competitions and has since turned her ardour for the traditional artform right into a aspect enterprise.
With virtually 11 years of expertise in making rangoli kolam professionally, the Johor Baru-based beautician is now amongst essentially the most sought-after kolam makers across the area and has seen an elevated orders of her companies this yr.
Over the final couple of months, Mogenes has executed over 30 rangoli kolams at quite a few places round northern and southern components of peninsular Malaysia together with for inns, company places of work and residences.
Her shoppers embody Holiday Villa JB, Melaka’s Konica Minolta workplace in addition to the Southern Marina Residences and Amari Hotel in Johor Baru.
She just lately returned from Singapore after being commissioned to do a kolam at one among Micron Semiconductor places of work there.
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The largest rangoli kolam that she ever did was a 5.5 meter kolam at Wings by Croske Resort in Langkawi just lately that took a whopping 15 hours to finish.
Mogenes added that social media akin to TikTok and Instagram has performed a giant position in her enterprise as most of her shoppers obtained in contact along with her by way of the platforms after seeing movies of her rangoli kolams.
“Kolam making is an ongoing studying course of for me.
“You enhance with each design and also you discover your creatively on the main points of the designs as you go on.
“For my age, seeing ladies making kolam arts are fairly uncommon, however I’m seeing a variety of males stepping into the enterprise,” she mentioned.
Keeping traditional values
Sivabalan has revamped 52 rangoli kolams these previous couple of months resulting in Deepavali. — Picture by Miera Zulyana.
Wedding planner and kolam maker Sivabalan Arumugam has had his arms full within the months constructing as much as Deepavali this yr with many company corporations particularly from the automotive trade buying his kolam-making abilities for their showrooms.
Sivabalan, through his firm Life Creation and Design, has revamped 52 rangoli kolams these previous couple of months for huge title shoppers akin to Volvo, Proton and Honda, making this yr their most profitable yr but.
Their rangoli kolam costs vary from RM450 and go as much as over RM30,000 relying on the kolam sizes and designs which incorporates Deepavali components akin to lotus, lamps and peacock.
One of their costliest jobs was for the Pavillion buying advanced in Johor Baru final yr the place they charged RM38,000 for a 9.75 meter rangoli kolam with a peacock design.
One of the rangoli kolam made by Sivabalan being displayed at KLIA2.— Picture courtesy of Sivabalan Arumugam.
Keeping up with the custom of kolam being a feeding floor for smaller animals, the 35-year-old at all times makes use of meals colouring on the rice and suji flour for his kolam components and returns to it after a number of weeks or months of the kolam being displayed.
He offers the recollected rice and flour to farmers and breeders for feeding livestock.
Sivabalan repeats this course of for most kolams he makes.
He mentioned that each kolam maker has their very own identification of their designs and he avoids copying designs of others out of courtesy and respect for fellow kolam makers.
“I’ve been doing kolam for virtually 20 years now and I’ve at all times had a deep curiosity in artwork and design.
“Sometimes I’m able to recognise the work of different kolam artists by taking a look at their designs.
“Most of them have their very own signature look,” he mentioned.
In an effort to nurture curiosity particularly for youthful generations within the artwork of kolam, Sivabalan may also organise kolam-making workshops and he has beforehand labored with native colleges in addition to Sunway Putra Mall.
He can be planning to organise one other workshop within the close to future on tips on how to combine colors and create kolam designs.
