Kolam designs have been tradionally handed down to the younger generation by the elders.  Today, several organisations and magazines conduct kolam exhibitions & contests to revive the interest in traditional habits & customs.  There are enthusiasts who create fresh new designs, but kolams are basically redrawn by the public following the designs taught by elders or printed in books & magazines.    
 
Kolams - traditionally applied on the floor with powder & designs on paper 
    

 
 
Queries, common doubts on Indian customs & their explanation   
 
Mark on the forehead, application of mehendi 
    
 
 
 Traditional beauty treatments have been handed down by word of mouth and practice down the generations in India. Quite a few of the methods and prctices followed by our elders had a very scientific and rational base with a major usage of items that we use everyday in the kitchen, (like milk, turmeric, curd, gram flours, etc..), leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds & the bark and roots from plants (like hibiscus leaves & flowers, henna leaves, baadaam, etc.) All of these items were widely used to beautify but also to maintain and condition the body. Each of the beauty aids has the required moderating effect. Today, the use of natural items in food, beauty treatment, medicine is gathering momentum with a lot of herbal products in the market.    

In this section, we are also planning to provide info on the traditional practices used by Indians to decorate their homes, most of which have become part of everyday life.   
  
Quite a few of the traditional methods and practices handed down to us had a very scientific and rational base 
- with items that are in everyday use 
- easy home preparations 
 

Besan  Castor Oil
Green gram Flour Coconut Oil
Shikakai Kajal 
Chandanam Kumkumam
Sambraani Turmeric
Mehndi 
     
 
 
 
 
Related Links   
 
Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation - "Mylapore Trio" 
The Foundation contributes towards enriching Indian art and culture in Mylapore (Chennai) through children, youth & elders by inculcating in them Value based Culture, Tradition & Heritage programmes. 
http://www.srimylaporetrio.in
    
 
 
 
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