Onam Kolam

Onam is the state festival of Kerala. It is a ten days long festival in which the tenth day, the day of Tiruvonam is considered extremely auspicious and fortunate. Malayalee families all over the world celebrate this occasion with great enthusiasm and gusto. People organize community celebrations and feasts for this occasion. They also decorate their home with flowers and torans. The most important part of Onam celebrations is the Onam Kolam or the Pookalam. Pookalam is very similar to Rangoli; in fact it can be termed as form of Rangoli. Poo means flower and Kalam means artwork. Made of flower and colors, it is a very beautiful decorative motif used as a floor decoration on most of the auspicious occasion.On the occasion of Onam, Pookalam is made in most of the Malayalee homes. It is basically a colorful arrangement of flowers on the floor. Making a pookalam every day is like a ritual in every home during the ten day long Atham to Thiruvonam celebrations. Flowers are used on each day, as a particular flower is dedicated to each day of Onam. Beautiful motifs are made using these flowers along with naturally derived colors and cowdung.