The auspicious day of Thiruonam is tomorrow and across the world, Malayalis have been preparing to celebrate their biggest harvest festival. One of the highlights of the Onam festival is the excitement with which children and grown-ups get together to create beautiful floral carpets – known as pookalams. Every home , office and commercial establishments decorate the front area of their premises with elaborate pookalams starting from the day of Atham and this continues till the tenth day of the Onam festival.
Here are seven stunning pookalams that have been displayed at the famous Guruvayoor temple in Kerala and shared on their Facebook page:
On the first day of Atham, this pookalam shows a popular image of Lord Krishna, in the form of a baby, cradled on a leaf. Red flowers are usually not used to decorate the pookalam on the first day. The flower ”Chembarathipoovu” is used in pookalams only from the day of Chothi.
This pookalam depicts Lord Ganesha on the second day of Onam. According to temple tradition, mostly yellow and orange colors are used for decorating the pookalam on the Chithira day.
This pookalam was displayed on the fourth day, which is Vishakam. In old days, this was an auspicious day for markets to open their harvest sale, making it one of the busiest days for the public who want to buy new items for their homes, as part of the Onam celebrations.
On Chothi, this pookalam displays the friendship and affection between Lord Krishna and his childhood friend Sudama.
This pookalam is displayed on the day of Anizham, which marks the fifth day of Onam.
Another beautiful pookalam depicting Lord Krishna as part of the Onam celebrations at the Guruvayoor temple in Kerala.
This colorful pookalam at Guruvayoor temple depicts Lord Shiva in divine splendor, using more colors and many different flowers.
Many devotees flock to celebrate Thiruonam at Guruvayoor temple in Kerala.
Onam is Kerala’s harvest festival, during which Malayalis prepare to welcome King Mahabali to their homes. This festive occasion is celebrated by making pookalams and onasadhya, which is the traditional Onam feast.