How to Draw Your First Sikku Kolam: A Step-by-Step Guide for Absolute Beginners

Have you ever walked past a home in South India, looked at the intricate, maze-like patterns on the floor, and thought, "I could never draw that"?

You aren't alone. Those geometric loops—known as Sikku Kolam, Neli, or Kambi Kolam—look impossibly complex to the untrained eye. It looks like magic.

But here is a secret: It isn't magic. It’s just connecting the dots.

If you can draw a curved line, you can master this traditional Indian floor art. You don't need to be an artist; you just need to know the logic. Today, we are going to break down exactly how to draw a classic 3x3 design using the picture below as our guide.

What exactly is a Sikku Kolam?

Unlike freehand Rangoli, which is often filled with bright colors and drawn spontaneously, Sikku Kolam is mathematical. It consists of a grid of dots, and a single continuous line that curves around those dots to form a symmetrical knot.

The rule is simple: The line must go around the dots, never through them.

It is an ancient form of brain training. The focus required to close the loop is why many people call this "Yoga for the brain" or mindful art therapy.

The Secret Weapon: The Dot Grid

The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to draw the shape first. Don't do that!

Always start with the skeleton—the dots. The dots act as your GPS; they tell your hand exactly where to go next. In our Dotify Creations workbooks, we emphasize starting with small grids like this one to build your confidence before tackling giant festival designs.

Step-by-Step: Drawing Your First 3x3 Loop

Grab a pencil and a piece of paper (or your Dotify Creations Workbook). Look at the image above and follow these steps.

Step 1: Set up the Grid (Image 1)

Draw a simple square grid of dots:

Row 1: 3 dots

Row 2: 3 dots

Row 3: 3 dots

• You should have a perfect square of 9 dots total.

Step 2: The Top-Left Loop (Image 2)

Start your line between the dots. Draw a diagonal loop that hugs the top-center dot and curves around to hug the left-middle dot. It looks like a tilted oval or a balloon leaning to the left.

Step 3: The Top-Right Loop (Image 3)

Now, mirror that shape on the other side. Draw a loop that crosses your first line and hugs the right-middle dot, curving back up towards the top. You can already see a "heart" shape forming at the top of your grid.

Step 4: The Bottom-Left Loop (Image 4 & 5)

Keep the line flowing downwards. Create a loop that hugs the bottom-left dot. Notice how the line is starting to weave over and under itself? That is the beauty of Sikku Kolam.

Step 5: The Final Connection (Image 6 & 7)

Complete the pattern by drawing the final loop around the bottom-right dot. Connect your line back to where you started.

Congratulations! You have just drawn a continuous knot. Check Image 7—do you see the four "petals" or leaves? This is a classic beginner design that represents symmetry and balance.

Why Paper Beats Screens

In a world of iPads and digital drawing apps, you might wonder why we only sell physical paperback books.

Kolam is a tactile experience. The friction of the pencil on paper (or rice flour on the ground) helps build muscle memory. When you practice in a physical workbook, you are engaging your fine motor skills in a way that tapping a screen cannot replicate. It is a genuine digital detox—a quiet moment in your day to unplug and create something beautiful.

Ready to Master the Grid?

If you enjoyed drawing that simple shape, you are ready for more. But you don't need to draw the dots yourself every time!

At Dotify Creations, we have done the hard work for you. Our books come with pre-printed dot grids starting from simple designs like this one and slowly graduating to complex festival patterns. It’s the easiest way to learn.

[Shop our Beginner’s Kolam Workbooks Here] and start your mindful journey today.