Pookalam ( Flower carpet )

It's drawn in first 10 days of Onam,a festival in Kerala,India.Usually during first day a flower carpet is put with single colored flower.Next day will have two colored flowers on the flower carpet and continued as such.The tenth day usually called Thiruvonam is the day to put a flower carpet with 10 colored flowers.

Every pookalam have a theme based story to tell. The design you are making should be relevant to the theme.You must be aware about the space requirement and the size of the pookalam.

The pookalam we make are based on availability of flowers and the patterns used in making flower carpet.
Before coming on to the procedure of making an awesome pookalam,let me introduce you to the culture of Kerala.

Kerala also known as God's own country because of traditional and versatile culture followed by Keralities.

Culture

During onam children and family members wake up early to make flower carpets.The children will collect flowers from field and neighbouring location.Sometimes people buy flowers from shops the day before they are putting an awesome pookalam.This culture is followed by Keralites.

Dress

Woman wear tradtional dress of kerala like saree or skirt and top.Men wear traditional mundu before putting pookalam.The dress worn during onam is called "onam kodi" in Kerala.

Making of pookalam

The ground is prepared before making pookalam.Usually sand is filled and dumped and levelled.After levelling patterns are drawn to put flowers into the the drawn pattern.Usually the patterns are drawn within circles.The flowers are put inside the patterns drawn with proper color combination.
Hope you got a clear idea about pookalam!Thank you.