Creation of an Athapookalam

Athapookalam or Onapookalam is the flower bed or flower arrangements done during Onam in Kerala. It is a distant cousin of Rangoli in North India and Kolam in Tamil Nadu. Traditionally, the making of the Pookalam begins on the Atham day, ten days before Thiruonam.Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the malayalam month of Chingam

This year me and my colleges were putting lots of effort to on the creation of Athapookalam.The moment date declared for Athappokalam competition at KIMS ,we all started planning of collection of money and  finalization of design...As we had a bunch of amazing chaps in our team all went well..With out allocation of the role ,each and every one took their role voluntarily ..That makes this event a big fun and success...The competition is marked between the departments ..We were representing our IT department.
The day before the night of Athapookalam ,a team of Sunil,Abid,Arun,Rajasenan and Thamarai went to Thovala to purchase flowers. Thovala is a village well known for flower cultivation.Thovala alos knows as color full village of south India.Next day morning they reached back with wide of verity of flowers.A team of Praveen,Varalexmi,Jabeen Khan,Rakhi,Thamarai,Rajasenana,Aneesh KH,Aneesh,Sajilal,Shabeen and Eldose started to separate petals out of each flower.As it much time consuming process its last for hours .


Segregating flowers for arrangement

We all brain stormed on the design from different pattern to modern designs, what we called a new generation designs...Finally the vote succeeded for  modern designs.So we went for  modern design than the traditional pattern.

Drawing design for floral arrangement

We started the  drawing around 9 pm...After the design finalized the first  petals started to arranges on the Peafowl design ..

Making of Peafowl

We used blue petals with the combination of finely chopped green leaves to create peafowl body.The starting went smoothly.When it reached on peafowl feathers , we been confused what is best fit to the peafowl feather design..Fortunately we had some fine leaves of ever green plant .We tried that and it was looking amazing on the white floral back ground.The team members like Suraj,Aneesh KH,Arun,Thamarai,Jabeen Khan,Sujin,Richard,Rajasenan ,Rakhi and Aneesh contribute their role on arrangement to get best out of the creativity.Some was busy with chopping flowers and leaves and some helps to arrange the petals..In over all it was a fabulous team effort.

Creating Peafowl feathers with ever green leaves

Combining the both designs

 The design consist of half peafowl and half Kerala traditional dance Kathakali`s face.The fabulous team effort brought the tough design to a wonderful creativity  by the restless continuous 10 hrs effort.By the time we finishes the outer border the clock was tickling to 5am...No one realize how fast the time flies..It was a wonderful team effort and ever lasting memory which helps to brought our creativity in reality.

Final outcome

Posing the team with our honorable Chairman Dr.Sahadulla

Various designs at a glance