Kungumam is made from dried turmeric and with some lime, it turns the rich yellow powder into red color.

Offering kungumam to a married lady when she leaves the house is a form of respect or to a young girl, you bless her.
Although it is not offered to a widow.

In temples married ladies put a dot of yellow kungumam in their neck. Most of the Hindu put a red
dot of kungumam on their forehead, certainly when doing puja (pray-offer) in the temple and during religious festivals.

Although the red and yellow is mostly used for religious signs, the other colors can be used to
ornament kolams, a colored drawing in front of the house to welcome guests.

Here the scene of kungumam was taken on a market in Mysore centre, a nice place to visit for all the flowers stalls.