These ephemeral images are believed to bring good luck, welcoming Goddess Lakshmi at the dawn. However, owing to busy schedules no one seems to be interested in them, says Shanthi Sridharan, a homemaker who has showcased more than 2,000 designs of kolams on her Facebook page. 

Shanthi said, “I wanted to change the outlook towards it. I have always been interested in it since a young age. And upon my daughter’s insistence, I put up the designs on the page.” 

With over a lakh followers and likes, Shanthi’s designs garner as many as 4,000 comments and 700 shares per day. A self-taught kolam expert, Shanthi dabbles in the traditional pullikolams, kambikolams and padikolams. 

Juggling between the kolams made of dots and rangolis that are freehand drawings, Shanthi’s designs go beyond the traditional forms. She works on the circular mandalas and murals inspired from ancient temples. Drawing heavily from nature, Shanthi introduces unusual colour combination with birds, flowers, and myriad shapes, apart from gods and goddesses. She said, “I am inspired by all kinds of art forms, including temple scultpures. However, I find mandalas and murals most interesting. In fact, the mandala is a spiritual exercise for me. With everyday practice, I can now do a mandala design in just five minutes.”