The third edition of The Hindu-MetroPlus Pookkalam Contest will be held at the Sri Gujarati Vidyalaya Association Hall, Beach Road, here on Saturday.
The contest will be held between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
Only 50 teams which have registered will be allowed to participate in the contest.
Each team should have five members, including the team captain, out of which three should be women. All team members should be above 15 years of age.
All registered teams should report to The Hindu MetroPlus Pookkalam contest information counter at the venue at 8.30 a.m. for the allotment of number and space in the hall. Right of selection of the teams will rest with The Hindu.
The Pookkalam should be prepared within two-and-a-half hours, which includes the time for drawing and flower arrangement.
The teams adjudged first, second and third will receive Rs.20,000, Rs.12,500, and Rs.7,500 respectively. Ten teams will be given consolation prizes of Rs.1,500 each. All teams will be given Rs.750 as reimbursement for the cost of flowers after the prize distribution.
The best traditionally dressed team and two individual participants will be given special prizes. Visitors will be allowed inside the hall from 2.30 p.m.
Exciting prizes
There will be exciting prizes for the lucky visitors. Parle biscuit crunch contests will be conducted for children in classes 1-4, 5-8, 9-12 groups and also for women aged 18 years and above.
Title sponsor of the event is Parle Products. The event is powered by Vodafone.
The associate sponsor is State Bank of India LHO. Gifts are sponsored by Preethi, Soulfull and Q&Q Watches.
The Pookkalam can be a circle or a square but the diameter/length and breadth should not exceed 5 ft. It should have a minimum area of 19 sq ft and a maximum of 25 sq ft.
Natural flowers and leaves alone should be used. Flowers required for the contest will have to be arranged by the contestants. Harmony of colours and shapes and neatness of the Pookkalam will be considered by the jury when deciding the winners.
The decision of the jury will be final.
Family members of the staff of The Hindu and the sponsors are not allowed to participate. The teams that do not follow the above set of rules will be disqualified.