Uma Raja's kolam designs use rice flour paste as one of the main ingredients. The rice flour paste serves as food to all insects and birds, making it environment friendly. The mandala design kolam designs are directly created on the floors and the brick red outline completing the look. Rice paste kolam designs are a little tricky for the beginners, because one cannot literally see the designs if it's a light background. Choosing a dark background helps in creating detailed kolam designs. Repetition of patterns and lines is a most common factor in these rice paste kolam designs. These kolam designs are created by dipping a piece of cloth in the rice paste mixture and squeezing out the juice to create the designs. Beginners can try these kolam designs with a paint brush, it helps immensely.