Click on these Kolam images to enlarge them

Pappaparvathi Sankaranarayanan has been in the US for two years, patiently spelling out her name and laughing along with those of us who find it unbelievably long. Her name invokes Gods and Godesses who are well known to natives of her country, India. Parvathi, as she is also called,  is proud of her background and gladly shares her knowledge with anyone who is interested in the Tamil culture. Coming from the southern part of India, she is more familiar with the Tamil language and traditions than she is with Hindi and its Northern Indian heritage. Since coming to the US, she has slowly become increasingly accustomed to the strange foods and ways of the West while still continuing the practices that so inherently make her part of a South Indian culture; she is a complete vegetarian,  takes her shoes off when she enters a home, and has made a "Pooja" room for prayers. She also continues to practice an artform well known in Tamil Nadu; drawing "Kolams" on the ground.

"A Kolam serves to embellish the doorstep making it look more inviting, and is a symbol of good fortune. It also has another purpose; when rice is used, it  provides nourishment for smaller animals such as birds or ants."

Pappaparvathi and her husband at home