Every year, in the early hours of Atham day, something spectacular happens in Kerala's Thrissur. Right in front of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, dozens of people
gather before sunrise with sacks of flowers, and by mid-morning, the ground in front of the temple turns into a giant, glowing carpet of colour. This is the Athapookalam, and this year's version was the biggest one yet. As per reports, the 2026 pookalam measured 62 feet across, two feet wider than last year's 60-foot design. It took around 2,000 kg of flowers and close to 150 volunteers to put it all together. The flowers were sourced from different parts of Kerala and prepped over three days before the final assembly. Work on the design started early, but the real rush happened on Atham morning itself, when devotees, morning walkers and regular members of a local group called Saayahna Sauhruda Koottayma all pitched in to finish it in time. Also Read: 90 Minutes To Just 10? Mumbai’s New ₹2,395-Crore Bridge Could Change How You Commute Everyday This is not really a one-off event dreamed up for tourists. It is the 18th year running for this particular pookalam, and it has become one of the defining sights of Onam in Thrissur. The group behind it has been meeting at the temple's southern gate for years, and what started as a small gesture between friends has grown into a city-wide tradition that draws crowds every single Atham morning.
Why This Pookalam Is Different?
Most households in Kerala make their own pookalam, adding a new ring of flowers each day through the ten days of Onam. All of this ends on Thiruvonam. What makes the Thrissur temple version stand out is the scale and the fact that it is built by a community, not a family. Anyone walking past the Thekkinkadu maidan that morning can stop, watch, and even lend a hand arranging petals. There is no ticket, no barrier, no formal invitation needed. You just show up - like any community would.Atham🌸🌺🌼 today starts the 10 days long #Onam
— Veronica 🇮🇳 (@VeronicaD_souza) August 30, 2022
Pookalam at Vadakkunnathan temple Kerala 😍 pic.twitter.com/99QLYKNyQN
Happy Onam!
Pookalam in front of Shri Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur.
Rcvd from a friend pic.twitter.com/UbO9kmchsZ— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) September 9, 2024
Planning A Visit
Onam runs across ten days, opening with Atham and closing on Thiruvonam. The temple pookalam is completed on Atham morning itself, so travellers hoping to see it forming should aim to be at the Vadakkunnathan Temple by early morning. This is way before the crowds build up. The flower carpet stays on display through the day, though like all pookalams, it fades by evening.Also Read: From Ruling India To Embracing Its Traditions: Ganga Aarti To Be Held On The London's Thames River
Thrissur is also easy to reach - the city has its own railway station, and Cochin International Airport is about an hour and a half away by road. Staying near the Swaraj Round or the temple area puts you within walking distance of the maidan, so you won't need to rush through traffic to catch the morning action.
If you are around a few days later, Thrissur also hosts Pulikali on the fourth day of Onam, when hundreds of performers paint themselves as tigers and dance through the Swaraj Round. Combining both events into one trip gives you a real sense of how Onam is celebrated in what many consider Kerala's cultural capital.
