
Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw a Pookalam
Draw a pookalam in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the round middle.
Step 1: The round middle
In the middle of your paper draw a small circle, a little bigger than a coin.
Tip Everything else goes round this circle in rings.
Step 2: 8 little petals
Round the circle draw 8 fat little petals pointing out, spaced evenly like the numbers on a clock.
Step 3: The first ring
Draw a bigger circle round the petals, just outside their tips.
Step 4: 12 pointed petals
Round that ring draw 12 pointed petals, each starting and ending on the ring.
Step 5: The second ring
Draw a bigger circle round the 12 petals, leaving a small gap past their tips.
Step 6: 16 big petals
Round the second ring draw 16 bigger pointed petals the same way, each starting and stopping on the ring.
Step 7: The outer ring
Draw the biggest circle of all round the outside, almost touching the edges of your paper.
Step 8: Dots between
Between the big petals and the big circle draw 12 little dots, spaced evenly all the way round.
Step 9: Yellow middle and dots
Colour the middle circle and the 12 dots yellow, and the band around the 12 petals too.
Step 10: Pink and orange
Colour inside the first ring pink, around the middle and the 8 little petals. Colour those petals orange.
Step 11: Green outer ring
Colour the outer ring green all the way round, around the 16 big petals and the dots.
Step 12: Red and purple petals
Colour the 12 pointed petals red and the 16 big petals purple. Go over your lines.

Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a pookalam, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
