Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Seems similar to kavadi during Thaipusam bearing logos and insignias of football clubs. Kolams usually consist of geometrical designs (southern India ones) and also more colorful ones (Rangolis from Northern India). The design is can be intricate or simple with either white or variety of colors used. The more colorful designs will have motives like peacock, elephant, oil lamps, flowers, swans, conch, and so on.
However, the attempt to create kolams with football team crests doesn’t really fit into the cultural aspect of the kolam. I won’t mind anyone creating them, but won’t consider them for the purpose of contests, or house decoration for festivals/functions.
Instead of creative and captivating kolam designs promoting the cultural heritage of Indians, youths here are creating designs of popular English Premier League football teams.
The state MIC is worried about this disturbing development and wants the practice of putting the crest of teams like Liverpool and Manchester United on kolam designs stopped.
Expressing disappointment over this trend, which has surfaced among younger football fans, state MIC chairman Datuk R. Perumal said: “Kolamis an ancient art dating back some 5,000 years and should not be sullied by images that have nothing to do with Indian culture.”
Perumal said many kolam designs depicting the two football clubs were drawn during competitions organised in conjunction with Deepavali. He noted that kolam was not just a decoration.
“It used to be created using coarse rice flour to invite birds and other small animals to come into one’s home and life.
“The kolam depicts the harmonious co-existence between men and animals.
“It is a sign that all are welcome into one’s home and also brings prosperity,” he said.
Using the kolam method to create the crests of soccer clubs deviated from its original design and purpose.
“It used to be a matter of pride to be able to draw large, complicated patterns but we are not going to commend those who draw crests of soccer clubs as they are just copying the designs from pictures,” he added.
Separately, Perumal said the state government had distributed RM200 cash aid to some 500 Hindus in the state on Saturday.
They also received household items so that they could enjoy the celebration.
source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/18/nation/9715212&sec=nation
