Kolam festival and competition, Chennai, near Kapileshwar temple, Mylapore. Early January 2011.

Before we came to Kerala this beautiful kolam* festival took place in Chennai: 

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolam

This is an artform practiced by women on a daily basis in front of their homes (in a more simple form). It is considered auspicious to bless the house daily in this way,and continues to be practiced throughout South India and parts of North India.