Asia's largest waste-to-art pookalam to be unveiled in Keralam's Malappuram

Malappuram: Keralam's Malappuram district is set to unveil what is billed as Asia's largest waste-to-art pookalam (floral carpet), as the state celebrates the harvest festival, Onam.

Industries and IT Minister P K Kunhalikutty will inaugurate the pookalam at Kottakkunnu here on Friday evening.

It has been created jointly by the Malappuram District Suchitwa Mission and Eco World Waste Management LLP, according to an official statement.


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The pookalam has been made using recycled plastic waste collected from households by Haritha Karma Sena members in various parts of the district after sorting it.

The 1,560-square-foot installation uses 20,736 plastic bottles, 13 kg of sacks, 485 CDs, 12 kg of aluminium foil, 138 food containers and 18 kg of plastic covers, the officials said.

The installation was completed after five days of work by nine artists.

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Created around the theme of a "green Onam", the pookalam reflects Kerala's traditional art and cultural heritage. It incorporates motifs of Kathakali and a chundan vallam (snake boat), highlighting how properly managed waste can be transformed into valuable creations.

The project carries the message, "Our waste, our responsibility", and urges people not to litter waste but segregate it and deposit it only in designated bins while keeping public spaces clean, they said.

The waste-to-art pookalam at Kottakkunnu will be open to the public until August 31, they added.