Pookalam
A circular floor design made entirely of fresh flowers during the Onam festival in Kerala.
Also: athapookalam, onapookalam
Pookalam means flower pattern in Malayalam. During the ten days of Onam, families lay a round design of petals and whole flowers at the front of the house. It starts small on the first day, Atham, and grows with new rings each day until Thiruvonam. Marigolds, chrysanthemums, globe amaranth, ixora, hibiscus and the small white thumba are used, with leaves for green. Schools, offices and neighbourhoods hold pookalam competitions, and the flower trade in South India peaks at this time.