Kozhikode: The Kudumbashree members of Kozhikode corporation limit are planning to enter the Limca Book of World records by laying 2,000 Onam flower carpets on a single platform. Nearly 10,000 Kudumbashree members will make 2,000 flower carpets at Malabar Christian College Ground on Saturday. They bought over 15 tonnes of flowers costing Rs 10.75 lakh from Palayam market, including the traditional chettipoovu (marigold), mulla (jasmine), jamanthi (chrysanthemum), vadamalli, arali, kozhipoovu and tube rose.
“All arrangements are in place to host the grand Pookkalam competition, ‘Snehapalika,’ of Kudumbashree workers in the corporation limit”, said corporation Kudumbashree project officer, Ramsy Ismail. The sponsor for the event is Western Union, which has taken the initiative to make the platform to host the event. It will be a huge task for the judges to select the three best flower carpets. The first prize winner will get eight grams of gold and the second and third winners four and two grams of gold respectively.
One of the team heads and also the Kudumbashree Community Development Service member Beena K. said, “more than the competition, we are excited to make beautiful carpets with flowers and we will also get an opportunity to see other Kudumbashree members. In 2010, the same Kudumbashree members had made an attempt to make a giant flower carpet to enter Limca,” she added. “Traditionally, the floral carpets used to be made with 10 different flowers. With the flowers becoming scarce, the carpets are often made of flowers sourced from the neighbouring states or with a variety of materials that carpet enthusiasts are familiar with. Hence, we are also sourcing them from the market,” she said.
