Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Thrissur Community Builds Giant Flower Carpet Every Onam
A pookalam is a colorful flower design made for Onam.
In Kerala, many families make one at home.
They add another ring of flowers each day for ten days.
The design is finished on a day called Thiruvonam.
In Thrissur, people make one much larger pookalam together.
It is created near the temple at Thekkinkadu maidan.
Anyone passing by can watch or help arrange the petals.
Visitors do not need a ticket or special invitation.
Kerala households traditionally create pookalams during the ten days of Onam.
Families add a new ring of flowers each day until Thiruvonam.
The Thrissur temple pookalam stands out because of its large scale.
Unlike household pookalams, it is built collectively by the community.
Visitors can watch or arrange petals freely at Thekkinkadu maidan without tickets or invitations.
- Who
- A community in Thrissur, along with visiting travellers and passersby.
- What
- Creates a giant pookalam, or flower carpet, for Onam.
- When
- During the ten days of Onam, with the display completed by Thiruvonam.
- Where
- At the Thekkinkadu maidan near a temple in Thrissur, Kerala.
- Why
- To create a communal Onam flower display and allow people to participate.
- Tradition
- Kerala households commonly make their own pookalams for Onam.
- Duration
- Pookalams receive a new flower ring each day for ten days.
- Completion
- The household tradition ends on Thiruvonam.
- Distinctive feature
- The Thrissur version is notable for its scale and community construction.
- Visitor participation
- Anyone passing by can watch or help arrange petals.
- Access
- There is no ticket, barrier, or formal invitation required.