Beautiful peacock kolam the star attraction at hotel
PORT DICKSON: Nine hours of painstaking work and about 150kg of coloured rice.
The results? A gorgeous kolam designed in vibrant colours, depicting a peacock in all its glory.
“We decided on a peacock design as it symbolises immortality and renewal,” said Simon Tan, who is general manager of Lexis Hibiscus where the kolam is displayed at the hotel lobby.
Employees from various departments at the hotel got together to design the kolam as preparation for the Festival of Lights.
Tan said the employees took nine hours to complete the design.
“They used some 150kg of coloured rice to meticulously design it,” he said, adding that each feather of the peacock represents protection, joy, love and a colourful life.
Tan said having a kolam is also believed to bring prosperity.
He said the hotel staff would design the kolam each Deepavali to usher in the festival.
“We create a kolam every year as it truly portrays the vibrant and festive mood of the occasion and most of all, we believe in cele- brating diversity,” he said.
It was also the hotel’s way of getting employees of different races to share in the joy of each other’s cultural and religious festivals.
“Be it Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Christmas, we always have meaningful projects like this,” he said.
Tan said their foreign guests often queried staff of the significance of the kolam.
He added that the kolam will be displayed for two weeks.
He said in conjunction with the festival, the hotel will also hold a corporate social responsibility event on Nov 8.