Rules of Onam Pookkalam Design Competition

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Rules of Pookkalam: The rules of the will change as per the nature of organization conducting the competition, as some organization may allow displaying sponsor names where as others may not allow it. However, there are some common rules to be followed in these competitions.

Materials: Teams can use only fresh flowers and leaves to make the Pookalam. They should not use the sawdust, shredded coconut, and artificial colors. If requested by the judges, they should show and prove the materials used in it. Colors of the flowers should not enhance by using the artificial colors. If any team is using any of the above practices, it will lead to disqualification of their team.

Big flowers:
Teams should use sepals of flowers only. They should not use the whole flowers. Even if you are creating the same flower itself, you must separate the sepals and keep it back. Sepals of the flowers may cut in to the small pieces. Using whole flowers, instead of sepals to make it will lead to disqualification of the team.

Place: They should make it on the place provided by the organizers. Making it on a paper or on a pre-drawn board will lead to immediate disqualification. However, teams can use a pre-drawn paper or drawings, and transfer the drawings to the place provided by organizers.

Discipline: A team should be disqualified, if any of the team members intentionally disturb or mess up the area allotted to other teams,

Traditional Decorations: Teams can keep Nirapara (Indian style measuring cup), Nilavilakku (in style lamp) and/or any other traditional materials to increase the appearance and traditional value of it. However, they must keep these things according to the traditional way and at the correct corner. They may lose points if you keep Nirapara and Nilavilakku in the wrong side of it.

Theme: The theme can be an art with Indian cultural value, or kalam itself. The theme can carry negative points (instead of positive points), to discourage them from using themes which is not suitable for the occasion. This will encourage the artist to select broad and diversified themes without worrying for points. Theme can also reflect the nature of the organization or the area of interest they are involved in. (If you restrict the theme to Kerala, all themes will be of Kathakali, Mohinyattam (Kerala Cultural dances) and Vallam Kali (Kerala boat race), which will take away the beauty and diversity of it)

Artistic value: Consider this point is for the artist who has designed it.

Nowadays many pookkalams concentrate more on the design part and in the process the ten rings are avoided. The pookkalams mainly concentrate on the various cultural aspects of Kerala and on the Onam myth.

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Comments

Unknown said…
Ohhh. I see. So there are rules in making onam pookalam designs in competitions. It's nice to know. Thanks for these guidelines. Cheers! happy Onam. I hope everyone have a good time!