Shining a light on frontliners this Deepavali

 

The kolam by Siva Das Menasome pays tribute to the tireless work of Malaysia’s frontline workers.

PETALING JAYA: In a year where the whole world has been thrust into darkness by the Covid-19 pandemic, a man in Pahang has taken the opportunity at Deepavali to give recognition to those working to rid the country of the deadly virus.

Siva Das Menasome, a 20-year old schoolteacher from Karak, has made a unique kolam to pay tribute to frontliners who have become the masked faces of resistance.

“In Hinduism, kolams are very important. The coloured kolam, which we call Rangolum or Rangoli, are placed outside to bring good vibes into the home, to attract happiness and prosperity.”

Kolam are usually made by arranging coloured rice into elaborate, vibrant depictions of traditional symbols like peacocks and flowers. Siva has taken a different approach, putting at the forefront the frontliners who, he said, have put so much effort into saving our country.

Siva Das Menasome.

“This year’s kolam is a tribute to them. It features three of them, and the one in the middle is holding a lamp that brings light to overcome the darkness, Covid-19.”

Done entirely by hand using nothing but coloured rice, Siva first laid the rice down in vague shapes before defining the edges with his thumbs.

With his initial sketch always within his sight, he periodically glanced over to make sure he was on the right path, and flicked away grains to remove any mistakes he noticed, however minor.

While the final product took three hours to complete, his full process began a week earlier, which involved extensively planning both the design and deciding on the colours he would need, which he blends himself using cracked rice and food dye.

“I do a lot of homework,” he said, “because everyone can do a kolam but the uniqueness is something that is important to me.”

What started as a hobby seven years ago that was confined to his family home, the traditional artform has become something of a passion for Siva, who’s created kolams for wedding and shopping malls in the years since.

Despite the attention he’s garnered online and the events he’s been able to design for, he insisted there’s still plenty for him to learn.

For now though, like the rest of the country, he looks forward to a time when the virus becomes a relic of the past and the country can move towards a brighter future. - FMT