A 30-foot-diameter pookkalam made entirely from 3,000 mundus has been unveiled at Forum Mall, Kochi, this Onam, earning a place in the Asia Book of Records as the continent's largest pookkalam crafted from the traditional Kerala garment. The installation, created by textile brand Ramraj Cotton, reimagines the festive floral carpet — a centrepiece of Onam celebrations — by replacing flower petals with colourful dhotis arranged in an elaborate, large-scale design.

The Making of the Mundukalam

Dubbed the 'Mundukalam', the installation draws on the same meticulous layering and colour-play that goes into a traditional pookkalam. Mundus in a variety of colours were carefully arranged into a sprawling pattern, transforming thousands of pieces of fabric into a vivid visual canvas. The sheer scale — 30 feet in diameter — has drawn large crowds to the mall since its unveiling ahead of the festival.

The record claim has been recognised by the Asia Book of Records, validating the scale and originality of the concept. For Ramraj Cotton, the exercise is as much a brand statement as it is a cultural tribute — placing the mundu at the centre of Onam's most iconic ritual.

Two Symbols of Malayali Culture, One Canvas

The Mundukalam brings together two of Kerala's most enduring cultural markers: the mundu, the simple white or off-white garment worn by generations of Keralites on festive and ceremonial occasions, and the pookkalam, the floral carpet laid outside homes as a joyous welcome to Mahabali, the legendary king whose mythical annual return is the spiritual heart of Onam.

Every year, as Onam approaches, households across Kerala gather flowers from gardens, markets, and the countryside to build pookkalams that grow larger and more intricate as the ten-day festival progresses. The designs symbolise prosperity, togetherness, and celebration. The Mundukalam takes that familiar practice and reinterprets it in fabric, giving the tradition a contemporary edge without abandoning its roots.

The Mundu's Enduring Place in Kerala's Identity

Despite shifting fashion trends across modern India, the mundu has retained its place as an essential part of Kerala's festive wardrobe. It is worn at weddings, temple visits, and public ceremonies, carrying connotations of simplicity, dignity, and regional pride. Ramraj Cotton, one of the country's prominent dhoti manufacturers, has long built its brand around this cultural connection.

This Onam, the brand has given the garment an entirely new role — not to be worn, but to bloom into a record-setting pookkalam that Kerala has not seen before.

Significance for Onam 2025

The installation adds a novel dimension to Onam 2025 celebrations in Kochi, a city that hosts some of the state's most elaborate festival events. By situating the Mundukalam inside a major commercial mall, Ramraj Cotton has also brought the festival's visual language into an urban retail setting — a reminder that Kerala's festive traditions remain alive and adaptive in contemporary spaces.

As Onam festivities peak across the state, the Forum Mall Mundukalam stands as one of the season's most talked-about installations, blending cultural heritage with record-breaking ambition.