Onam rangoli designs are made with flowers, not powder, and are called pookalam in Kerala. This gallery has 12 designs, so you can pick the right rangoli for onam, from a single yellow ring for Atham to big competition pookalams with peacocks, elephants and snake boats.
Each design shows the size, level and time, and the guide below tells you how many flowers to buy. For more petal ideas see our flower rangoli designs and for round layouts try round rangoli designs.
Athapookalam: Onam Rangoli Designs with Flowers
An onam rangoli with flowers is called athapookalam. It is the round flower carpet laid in the front yard during the ten days of Onam. These onam rangoli designs with flowers start small on Atham and grow ring by ring until Thiruvonam.
1. Ten Ring Athapookalam with Marigold
Ten rings for the ten days, from yellow at the centre to deep red at the edge. About 1.2 metres across, it needs roughly 3 kg of petals and 90 minutes with two people.
2. Atham Day Yellow Flower Pookalam
On Atham, the first day, families lay just one ring of yellow flowers. This 40 cm pookalam takes 10 minutes and grows over the next nine days.
3. Eight Petal Lotus Star Pookalam
An eight-petal lotus made of rose and marigold inside a white ring. A traditional kerala rangoli design that looks complete by day five.Simple Onam Rangoli Designs for Home
Simple onam rangoli designs are perfect for flats and small porches. These are the easiest flower rangoli designs for Onam: they use four or five flowers, need about half a kilo of petals and take 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Four Quarter Pookalam in Bright Colours
A circle split into four quarters of yellow, orange, white and pink. The easiest pookalam to keep neat, about 20 minutes and 500 g of petals.
5. Nilavilakku Lamp at the Pookalam Centre
A brass lamp sits in the middle of three flower rings. Light it in the evening and the whole pookalam glows.
6. Leaf and Marigold Pinwheel Rangoli
Six curved arms of green leaves spin around a marigold centre. A fresh look using leaves from the garden.Competition Onam Rangoli Designs (Pookalam Contests)
Offices, colleges and clubs hold pookalam contests every year. A competition pookalam rangoli is bigger, use 10 or more colours and often follow a theme.
7. Kathakali Crown Flower Rangoli
A kathakali crown (kireedam) in gold, red and green petals. Judges like bold shapes with clean edges, plan 2 hours for 1.5 metres.
8. Peacock Feather Mandala Pookalam
Eight peacock feathers fan around a mandala centre. Blue petals are hard to find, so use dyed chrysanthemum or butterfly pea flowers.
9. Two Caparisoned Elephants with a Lamp
Two decorated elephants face a central lamp, a nod to temple festivals. Petals plus a little coloured powder for the fine lines.Onam Special Rangoli Designs: Umbrella, Boat and Banana Leaf
Onam special rangoli designs often show symbols of the festival: the palm-leaf umbrella that welcomes Maveli, the snake boat race and the sadya on a banana leaf.
10. Olakuda Umbrella in Flower Petals
The olakuda umbrella stands for Maveli's visit. Draw the ribs first with a stick, then fill with petals. A beautiful flower rangoli for onam with a clear story.
11. Snake Boat on Blue Petal Waves
A long snake boat with its tall curved stern rides blue and white waves. A lively theme for school contests.
12. Banana Leaf Sadya Pookalam
A banana leaf with small piles of colour standing for the sadya dishes. A fun, original idea that families love.How to Make an Onam Pookalam Step by Step
- Sweep the floor and sprinkle a little water so petals do not fly.
- Mark the centre. Tie a string to a stick and draw circles with chalk at equal gaps.
- Draw the inner shapes (lotus, star, pinwheel) with chalk.
- Fill from the centre outward, one colour at a time. Pat petals flat with your palm.
- Finish with a crisp outer border and clean any stray petals with a soft brush.
Traditionally the pookalam grows each day: one ring on Atham, more rings on each of the next days, and the biggest on Thiruvonam.
Flowers to Use and How Much to Buy
| Colour | Flowers | For 1 metre |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Marigold, chrysanthemum, thumba-like small yellow flowers | 700 g |
| Orange | Orange marigold | 500 g |
| White | White chrysanthemum, jasmine | 400 g |
| Red and pink | Rose, hibiscus, cockscomb | 400 g |
| Purple and blue | Button flowers, butterfly pea | 200 g |
| Green | Chopped mango, neem or any garden leaves | 300 g |
Buy flowers the evening before and keep them in a damp cloth. Pluck petals just before you start.
Tips for Competition Onam Rangoli Designs
- Choose one strong theme and keep the layout clear from a distance.
- Put light and dark colours next to each other for contrast.
- Chop leaves very fine so green areas look smooth, not patchy.
- Use a thin line of coloured powder only for fine outlines if the rules allow.
- Split the work: one person fills, one person prepares the next colour.
See competition rangoli designs for more contest ideas.
Keeping a Pookalam Fresh
Sprinkle a light mist of water two or three times a day, especially on rose and leaf areas. Keep the pookalam out of direct afternoon sun if you can. After Onam, collect the petals and put them in compost or around garden plants instead of the bin.
Common questions
What are onam rangoli designs called?
In Kerala they are called pookalam, or athapookalam because they start on Atham day. They are made with fresh flower petals and leaves laid on the floor in a round pattern.
What flowers are used for an onam pookalam flower rangoli?
Marigold, chrysanthemum, rose, jasmine, hibiscus, button flowers and green leaves are the most common. Choose flowers that do not wilt fast, and keep them in a damp cloth until you use them.
How do I make simple onam rangoli designs at home?
Draw a circle with chalk and split it into four or six parts. Fill each part with one flower colour and add a leaf border. A 60 cm design needs about half a kilo of petals and 20 minutes.
Can I make onam rangoli designs with colours instead of flowers?
Yes. Powder colours work if flowers are costly or hard to find, and you can follow the same ring layout. Many people mix both, using powder for outlines and petals for the fill. See our rangoli designs with colours.
How many rings does a pookalam rangoli have?
Traditionally one ring is added each day, so the pookalam has ten rings by Thiruvonam. Many families make fewer rings but a bigger design on the last day.
What is a good theme for an onam pookalam competition?
Popular themes include the palm-leaf umbrella, snake boat, kathakali crown, elephants and the banana leaf sadya. Pick one and keep the design bold and easy to read from far.
