THRISSUR: The festive spirit of Onam has blossomed in Thrissur, with a spectacular 62-foot-wide Athapookalam taking shape at the Vadakkunnathan Temple grounds.
The mega floral carpet was completed on Atham day after hours of painstaking work by volunteers led by the Thrissur civic community. This year’s pookalam is two feet larger in diameter than last year’s 60-foot design.
Around 2,000 kg of flowers, collected from different parts of Kerala, went into creating the colourful floral artwork. Nearly 150 volunteers were involved in putting it together.
The preparations began three days ago, with volunteers first working on the design and then cutting and arranging hundreds of kilograms of flowers. The final stages began in the early hours of Atham day, with devotees visiting the Vadakkunnathan Temple, morning walkers and members of the Saayahna Sauhruda Koottayma joining hands to complete the pookalam.
The floral tradition has now entered its 18th year in Thrissur under the leadership of the Saayahna Sauhruda Koottayma. Organisers said the annual Athapookalam has become an important celebration that showcases Thrissur’s rich cultural heritage and brings the festive spirit of Onam to the heart of the city.
“This is the 18th Athapookalam being created in Thrissur. It is a matter of great pride and happiness for us,” organiser Shoby T. Varghese said.
As the giant floral carpet took its final shape, the Vadakkunnathan temple grounds and Thekkinkad Maidanam turned into a festive gathering spot, with large numbers of people arriving to admire the artwork and capture photographs.
For many in Thrissur, the giant Athapookalam is more than a floral decoration—it is an annual reminder that ‘Onam has arrived’, bringing together devotees, walkers, volunteers and residents in a shared celebration of Kerala’s favourite festival.
