How to Draw a Pookkalam – Step-by-Step Flower Design for Kids
Jan 16, 2026
Celebrate colours and patterns as you learn how to draw a beautiful Pookkalam using easy step-by-step pictures made for kids.
Step 1: Begin with a big circle.
Step 2: Draw a small circle inside the one that you have drawn now.
Step 3: Draw some intersecting small straight lines inside that small circle.
Step 4: Enclose the space between the lines with curved lines as shown in the image.
Step 5: Draw some small straight lines outside the small circle that you have drawn second.
Step 6: Now begin enclosing the spaces between the lines with curved lines on the right side.
Step 7: Repeat the same on the left side to witness a beautiful flower design.
Step 8: Now, draw some semicircles inside the outer circle, towards the flower shape you just drew.
Step 9: Draw semicircle shapes that intersect the ones that you have drawn just now. This time, the circles begin from the flower shape, so they face towards the outer side on the right.
Step 10: Now repeat the same towards the left side.
Step 11: Add some ‘v’ like shapes in the blank space formed between the intersected semicircles.
Step 12: Here it is. Your excellent pookkalam design is ready.
How to draw Pookkalam simply; a celebration of flowers
When the festival of Onam comes around in the state of Kerala, there are a lot of incredible sights all over the state. One of the most beautiful and joyous sights of the festival of Onam is the Pookkalams that are made to welcome joy into homes. During the time of Onam, homes are filled with a blend of pleasure, flower decorations, and many cheerful stories that are shared. Just like the flower decorations that are done all over the homes, the decorations are made of many different colors. At Monkey Pen, we enjoy the playful and creative traditions and transform them into wonderful learning experiences. That is why teaching kids how to make Pookalam drawings brings us such enjoyment and happiness.
When teaching children to make Pookalam drawings, the main goal is not to have the drawing be perfect. The aim is to have them enjoy the colors while feeling the excitement of the Onam festival. Pookalam drawings are intended to bring a connection to the Onam festival, and children of all ages, will all enjoy the experience. The Pookalam drawings will bring excitement to all, as the drawings will be appreciated by many and will appear to be flowers all dancing in a circular formation.
What Makes a Pookalam So Special?
Traditionally, Pookkalam is made circularly. Every morning during the Onam festival, people make designs with flowers on their courtyards. Onam is celebrated for 10 days and each day, the flower decorations keep becoming bigger and brighter.
As children learn the steps for drawing a pookkalam design, they become familiar with the different elements that go into a design. These include patterns like circles, petal shapes, and outline and border rings. The younger children feel encouraged with the simpler patterns, while older children like to challenge themselves with more intricate creations. That's the beauty of pookalam design; it is fun for everyone, regardless of their age.
Do you like to draw instead of using flower pookalam designs?
Although flowers are lovely, they are also very temporary. They won't last very long at all, whereas the designs you create will last for a long time. That's why many families like to draw pookkalam designs on the floor with chalk, or use crayons, or even paper and other craft supplies. When children draw, they are also able to start over easily, use lots of different colors without restriction, and their designs will last longer.
Some children prefer to design their pookkalam to be more precise and intricate, while others will enjoy making their designs more whimsical and mixed. Our step-by-step pookkalam drawing is fun in its own way. Sometimes, simple designs can feel very festive, and designers are often credited with saying that the pookkalam designs are easy to draw when the children start with a design and then color it in.
How Monkey Pen Makes Design Pookalam Fun
Monkey Pen guides children in a step-by-step drawing process through their videos and worksheets. The easy to draw worksheets are made specifically for early ages. You can download them as high-quality PDFs and simply follow the steps to create your own drawing.
Our easy to draw worksheets help children to slowly and peacefully draw along without feeling like they have to rush. Sometimes parents print a simple worksheet before the videos. This way, children can practice drawing circles, petals, and boarders in a fun atmosphere. At Monkey Pen, we aim to show children the enjoyment that drawing can bring, rather than making it feel like a chore.
Curious and Fun Facts About Pookalam
It may surprise you to learn that a traditional Pookalam may contain over ten different types of flowers, each with different meanings and colors. Some Pookkalams are small, while others are large enough to fill a room!
Another interesting aspect is that many Pookalam patterns mimic natural phenomena like flowers, stars, or some artforms like theyyam, kathakali, etc. This is an excellent opportunity for children to practice drawing because they are learning about different shapes and designs while learning how to draw an easy flower step by step in onam pookkalam designs. When children learn to draw, they practice pattern recognition!
A Family Drawing Activity
Everyone in the family can come together to make a Pookalam. Parents can share Onam stories while helping younger kids color the bigger shapes. Older kids can work on the little things.
Bringing Festival Joy to Paper
Drawing pookkalam is not just a drawing activity. It promotes children’s feelings of cultural connectivity, a celebratory spirit, and nurtures their creativity, especially when following a step by step drawing tutorial. It becomes easy to draw pookkalam with Monkey Pen’s creative and uncomplicated drawing videos.
Take some drawing materials, launch a drawing video, and enjoy watching your Pookalam take shape.
