Lakshmi Patti

Her World

Rangoli and kolam

From a young age, Patti explored the art of kolam (which is the Tamizh name for rangoli), developing her skills entirely on her own. She started by doing kolams in front of her house during the Markazhi months of December & January. She drew kolams such as the rising sun during New Year and pongal pot and sugarcane for Pongal. After her marriage she moved to Ernakulam with Thatha and continued this tradition. While there, Patti produced a book of her kolams which was published and sold as a fundraiser for the local temple.

Her own creations started with single, elegant depictions of deities such as Lakshmi and Saraswathi, gradually evolving to portray entire scenes. Her repertoire expanded to include breathtaking compositions like Anantha Sayanam, Shiva, Parvati, and baby Ganesha all within a single kolam. She even undertook ambitious series, narrating entire stories through sets of kolams, such as the playful Krishna Leela (a set of four), the epic Ramayana (a set of six kolams), and the enchanting tale of Shakunthalam (also a set of six).

Today, her talent has passed down the generations, with a number of her children and grandchildren carrying the tradition forward, filling homes with the same vibrant artistry during Navarathri.

Coloured rangoli of Vishnu reclining on the serpent Adisesha with Lakshmi at his feet and Brahma on a lotus above
Anantha Sayanam, coloured rangoli

Rangolis, photographed

  • Coloured rangoli of Vishnu reclining on the serpent Adisesha with Lakshmi at his feet and Brahma on a lotus above
    Anantha Sayanam Photograph
  • Coloured rangoli of Goddess Lakshmi seated on a pink lotus holding lotuses, on a blue ground
    Lakshmi on a lotus Photograph
  • Black-and-white photograph of a rangoli of Saraswathi seated with a veena
    Saraswathi with the veena Photograph
  • Colour photograph of a rangoli showing a lamp and a seated figure, with Tamil lettering celebrating Mythili's wedding
    Wedding rangoli for Mythily Photograph
  • Two black-and-white photographs of figurative rangolis showing groups of people
    2 rangolis on Dushyant Photograph
  • A woman in a blue sari crouching to draw a kolam at a threshold, photographed from the doorway
    Vasal kolam Photograph

Designs on paper

Her kolam book and notebook pages, including New Year designs dated 1953 and 1955.

  • Cover of Rangoli by Mrs. Lakshmi Santhanam, Book No. 1, with a peacock drawn in red
    Rangoli, Book No. 1 Drawing
  • A page of her kolam book with a round dotted kolam and a square lattice kolam, with Tamil captions
    Book page: two round kolams Drawing
  • A page of her kolam book with line-kolam borders down each side and a spiral kolam in the centre
    Book page: borders and a central kolam Drawing
  • Coloured pencil kolam of vines, flowers and butterflies on a ruled notebook page
    Floral kolam with vines Drawing
  • Coloured pencil kolam of flowering vines and butterflies with a Tamil heading, on a ruled page
    Floral kolam with butterflies Drawing
  • Coloured kolam of pink lotuses within a square frame, on a ruled page
    Lotus kolam Drawing
  • Coloured kolam of flowers and butterflies filling a square, on a ruled page
    Floral square kolam Drawing
  • Coloured kolam of hearts and flowers arranged in a circle, on a ruled page
    Round floral kolam Drawing
  • Pencil sketch for a New Year kolam: flowers around the numerals 1953
    New Year 1953 Drawing, 1953
  • Pencil sketch for a New Year kolam: the rising sun marked 1955 between palm trees, with birds
    New Year 1955 Drawing, 1955
  • Pencil kolam designs on paper: swans, a square lattice and two round line kolams, with Tamil captions
    Swan and line kolam designs Drawing
  • Pencil sketch of two swans on water with lilies
    Swans on water Drawing
  • Pencil sketch for a kolam: deer grazing beneath a tree with pine trees behind
    Deer under trees Drawing
  • Pencil sketch of a woman bending to draw a kolam in front of a house
    Drawing a kolam at the door Drawing

Certificates and accolades

  • Newspaper clipping headed Excel in Rangoli: Puranic themes favourites of Lakshmi Santhanam, with a photograph of her drawing on the floor
    Excel in Rangoli, newspaper feature
  • Newspaper feature headed an artist to her finger tips, by Sydney G. Smith, with a photograph of Lakshmi Santhanam at work
    An artist to her finger tips
  • The second column of the newspaper feature on her rangoli, with a photograph of a doll set
    An artist to her finger tips, continued
  • A second copy of the Excel in Rangoli newspaper clipping, with photographs of her drawing
    Excel in Rangoli, second copy
  • Certificate from Garden City Jaycees, Bangalore: the judges of the Rangoli Art Contest held on 13 September 1977 found the entry of Smt Lakshmi Santhanam of exceptional merit
    Garden City Jaycees rangoli award 13 September 1977