Meaning of Pookalam Designs: Ideas & Patterns

Celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Onam is a festival that marks the harvest of rice and brings in joy, prosperity, and good fortune.Diverse traditions and rituals mark Onam celebrations, along with games like boat racing and a grand feast called Onasadaya.

It is time to indulge in these festivities once again, as Onam is just around the corner. The ten days of celebrations will begin on August 25, 2025. Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam, will fall on September 5, 2025.

Does Onam bring images of colorful floral rangolis sprawled across the floor to your mind? They are called pookalams, which are a significant part of Onam celebrations.

Here is all the information you need to know about these vibrant floral carpets and their significance:

Pookalam: A Fragrant Symbol of Culture and Tradition

A pookalam is also sometimes called an Athapookalam.

‘Poo’ means flower, and ‘kalam’ means art or design. So a pookalam can be closely translated to mean ‘floral art.’

Traditionally, a pookalam is only made using local varieties of flowers, which include marigolds, roses, and jasmine. These flowers not only add decorative touches to people’s homes but the entire design has poignant cultural significance.

Onam pookalam decoration symbolises greatness in the following ways:

• The return of King Mahabali of Kerala
• A love for nature and gratitude for its abundance
• Joy and prosperity
• Coming together of the community in a spirit of harmony and celebration

These are some of the common meanings behind making a pookalam on the occasion of Onam. Let us now delve a little deeper into what the actual design of an Athapookalam signifies.

Whisper of Onam Pookalam Designs: It’s All About the Intricacies

Athapookalam designs are not merely an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of flowers. A traditional Onam pookalam follows a certain pattern that has a deep and symbolic meaning hidden behind it.

Why is a Traditional Pookalam Made in Circles?

If you have ever seen a pookalam, you would have noticed that it is mostly arranged in concentric circles. A closer look will reveal that a total of ten rings are created out of Onam pookalam flowers. Each of these ten circles symbolises ten deities.

The first one always represents Lord Ganesha. This is because he is worshipped to seek blessings for new beginnings.

The following rings represent Shiva & Shakti, Lord Shiva, Brahma, Pancha Boothangal, Shanmughan and Muruga, Guru, Shanmughan and Muruga, Ashta Digpalakar, Lord Indra, and Lord Vishnu.

The Process of Creating a Pookalam

A pookalam is not created in a single day. The process of making the design begins on day 1 of the festival. Mostly, a single flower is placed at the centre to mark the beginning of Onam. Each day new additions are made, making the design bigger and more intricate.

Pookalam designs often include simple and repetitive patterns that create visual balance and symmetry.

Modern Pookalam Designs: The Missing Traits

With time, modern influences have transformed traditional Athapookalam patterns and designs. These are some ways in which modern pookalams differ from the traditional ones:

• Today, all available varieties of flowers are used to create a pookalam and not just the local ones.
• Some people have also started using artificial colours and rice to add more hues and texture to their designs.
• Traditionally, a pookalam was made in the front yard of a house. Not anymore. Today even schools and offices are adorned with these floral rangolis.
• Onam pookalam designs are no longer limited to circles. People have started experimenting with more shapes like squares, triangles and even hexagons.
• 3D and theme-based pookalam designs have gained popularity.

Bring the Colours of Nature to Your Abode: Best Pookalam Design Ideas for 2025

This Onam let’s create a beautiful pookalam all by ourselves to welcome, love, peace, joy, and prosperity into our life. Here are some pookalam design ideas to spark inspiration:

• Classic Concentric Circles: If you are someone who loves following traditions, then the traditional floral rings are the perfect design for your home.
• Experiment With Shapes: For those who like to do things their own way, it is a great idea to play with shapes like hexagons, squares, and triangles and create geometric pookalam designs.
• Trending Peacock Feather Design: Create peacock feathers with leaves and colours and arrange them in a circle, filling the extra space with marigold flowers. This is the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional designs.
• Lotus-inspired Pookalam: Lotus flower is a symbol of purity, making it the perfect inspiration for a pookalam design. Use a mix of marigolds, roses, and green leaves to create a lotus shape.

Let your creativity unfold as you adorn your space with beautiful pookalam designs this Onam.

Pookalam: Celebrating Onam the Floral Way

Floral carpets covering the ground and sweet fragrances filling up the air—pookalams complete Onam and make it one of the most beautiful festivals of India. An Athapookalam is not just about festive decoration but holds significant cultural value.

This year, partake in the spirit of this harvest festival by creating your own pookalam designs at home and office; adorning your space and celebrating the beauty of Onam.

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