The Art That Inspired Our First Book
If you’ve ever walked up to a South Asian home during a festival or special occasion, chances are you’ve noticed colorful, intricate designs on the ground near the entrance. These aren’t just decorations. They’re symbols of welcoming, belonging, and cultural pride.
Rangoli [rung-goh-lee] and kolam [koh-luhm] are forms of floor art created using materials like rice flour, chalk, flower petals, or brightly colored powders. Patterns can be geometric, floral, or symbolic, ranging from simple dots and lines to elaborate, colorful designs. While the artistic style varies across South Asian regions, the heart of the practice is the same: to create something beautiful, honor tradition, and provide a warm and inviting welcome for guests.
In South Asian homes, rangoli and kolam carry deep cultural meaning. Drawing them is often a daily practice in some households, while in others, it’s reserved for special events. Using rice flour or natural powders connects the practice to themes of abundance, nourishment, and sustainability. Making these designs at the entrance of homes is symbolic too. It invites positive energy into the home while also feeding ants and other small creatures outdoors, reminding us of our interconnection with nature.
As a first-generation Tamil American with most of my extended family in India, I spent many childhood summers in Tamil Nadu. Some of my most vivid childhood memories come from those trips—visiting temples in every city, playing cricket in the streets with my cousins, and watching my Athai and Periamma sketch kolam designs at the entrance of their homes. They would wake up at the crack of dawn to draw, their hands moving so gracefully as patterns formed from dots and lines. My cousin and I would wander from house to house, admiring the neighbors’ intricate kolam designs and chatting with the aunties about their techniques. We even carried little notepads to copy the designs, slowly building our own “kolam books.” Later in life, I would watch my mom create intricate kolam and rangoli patterns at the entrance of our family home for every pooja and festive occasion.
These traditions helped shape my sense of identity and belonging as a South Asian American. What I loved most about the designs is how they embodied the spirit of hospitality, like an open invitation at the doorstep, quietly saying, “You are welcome here. You belong here.” The act of creating them—whether alone, with family, or alongside neighbors—turns art into a shared experience that ties generations together.
It’s these cherished memories that inspired my very first book for Bol and Sol Books, The Desi Dot Book. Designed as a high-contrast board book with developmentally appropriate features for little ones (more on that later!), it’s a way to introduce babies to South Asian culture from day one.
At Bol and Sol Books, we’re inspired by traditions like rangoli and kolam because they remind us that art is not only something we see, but something we live. It’s a way of showing care, celebrating culture, and creating spaces of connection.
Have you or your family made rangoli or kolam before? What memories do you have around this tradition? We’d love to hear your stories. Comment below or share them with us on Instagram @bolandsolbooks!
With Love,
Madhu