A quintessential ‘nadan’ Onam: See Kerala gardens raised solely for pookalam

In this Onam, little Siva’s pookalam (flower carpet) will be adorned by the flowers which she grew in her own garden. She had planted marigolds in her garden to make winsome pookalams in her house in Kokkur on this Thiruvonam. 

She urged her parents Ramesh and Meera to buy some marigold plants to cultivate in her yard. Some of the plants among the total 200 plants cultivated were spoiled during the course of its growth. However, many plants bear magnificent marigold flowers in the garden now. Siva offers the flowers to her friends also to prepare pookkalam. 

In a similar manner, individuals and a group of people had started to grow flowers in minor plots and on terraces for pookalam in view of Onam. 

‘Naattu Nanma’

An organisation ‘Naattu Nanma’ donated flowers for the old age homes, women shelters, children’s homes, rescue homes and Pratheeksha Bhavan, which function under the Department of Social Justice. The group has been indulging in gardening for the past few months. The volunteers are cultivating the flowers in the five cent land in the premises of Gandhi Sadan. The plants were bought from Bengaluru and the first phase of harvest was all set earlier than expected. The flowers were also given to the Thavanur Central jail, which was set up recently. 

Alluring gardens of Triprangode panchayat 

Triprangode panchayat has nurtured an appealing garden in the Chamravattom- Tirur roadside. Four units of marigold gardens were raised with the financial aid from the panchayat. A total of 4000 plants were planted here. The panchayat is planning to grow sunflowers also in these gardens. 

Harvests in Niramaruthur 

Flowers grown in four acres of land in Niramaruthur were harvested recently. The gardening was part of the annual programme scheduled by the Niramaruthur Krishi Bhavan. The sowing and gardening had been completed with the combined effort of the agricultural task force, MGNREGA workers, women and youth groups of the region. 

The gardens were grown in 12 different locations by entrusting the charge to 12 groups of volunteers. The flowers are being sold via storage and marketing centres set up by the Krishi Bhavan. 

Books and marigolds

The library authorities in K Puram reared marigold gardens with the support of Tanalur panchayat and Krishi Bhavan. The harvests were over way before ‘Atham’. 

Marigolds sprawl in an acre land

The marigold flowers reared by Kuttipuram grama panchayat and agriculture department will soon rule the flower carpets here. The garden was set up in an acre of land of Rangattoor Ummer Gurukkal by a team under Maniyankad native Mohanan. The flowers are sold for Rs 100 per kilogram.