കോലം എന്നതുകൊണ്ടുദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നത് തറയിൽ വരക്കുന്ന രൂപങ്ങളെയാണ്. ഇത് മംഗളസൂചകവും ഐശ്വര്യപ്രദവുമായി കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു. തമിഴ് നാട്ടിലും കേരളത്തിലെ തമിഴ് ബ്രാഹ്മണര്ക്കിടയിലും കോലം വരയ്ക്കുന്നത് പ്രധാന ആചാരമാണ്. കോലത്തിന്റെ വടക്കേയിന്ത്യൻ വകഭേദം രംഗോളി എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Kolam, also known as Muggu, Tarai Alangaram and Rangoli is a form of traditional decorative art that is drawn by using rice flour as per age-old conventions. It is also drawn using white stone powder, chalk or chalk powder, often along with natural or synthetic color powders. Its origin belongs to the ancient Tamil Nadu known as Tamilakam and has since spread to the other southern Indian states of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. It can be found in some parts of Goa and Maharashtra. Since the Tamil diaspora is worldwide, the practice of kolam is found around the world, including in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and a few other Asian countries. A kolam or muggu is a geometrical line drawing composed of straight lines, curves and loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. It is widely practised by female family members in front of their house entrance, although men and boys also practice this tradition. The similar regional versions of kolam with their own distinctive forms are known by different names in India: raangolee in Maharashtra, aripan in Mithila, alpona in West Bengal and hase and rangole in Kannada in Karnataka. More complex kolams are drawn and colors are often added during festival days, holiday occasions and special events.