Snehappookkalam set to enter Guinness Book

KOZHIKODE: The city scripted its way into the history by arranging the world's biggest floral carpet as a part of the Onam celebrations.

The floral carpet, christened as 'Snehappookkalam', laid in 17,662 sq. ft at Swapna Nagari here on Saturday, is now all set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.

The floral wonder bloomed in two hours and eight minutes and was made using seven flowers, representing the continents.

At least 1,000 volunteers, including school and college students, participated in laying the pookkalam, which consumed 15 tonnes of flower. District Judge MP Ismayil announced the completion of the pookkalam by abseiling in the centre of design.

Also present at the venue were Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem, M K Raghavan MP, Mayor M Bhaskaran and District Collector PB Salim.

To speed up the process of filling the mammoth design with flowers, the area was divided into 400 units. The biggest floral carpet until the birth of 'Snehappookkalam' was 14,000 sq. ft. in dimension, made in three hours. For the pookkalam to qualify for the Guinness World Records, it has to be certified by at least two prominent men and also requires video coverage from media, colour photographs and other documents for authenticity.