The second prize went to a team from Irinjalakuda, led by I.S. Manoj, and the third prize to the Bharat Petroleum Club team, led by K.A. Pius.

It was a few tense moments before the judges, led by C. N. Karunakaran, announced the results. The veteran artist conveyed the feelings of the other judges, T. Kaladharan and Jalaja, when he said it was a difficult but satisfying task. He said the Pookkalams were of excellent quality and finish, and the judges found it hard to pick the winners from among the 43 contestants.

Mr. Vinod and Biju, of the first-prize-winning team, were thrilled with the result of their efforts. This season, they have participated in several contests and have won some prizes, Mr. Biju said.

Mr. Pius said the Bharat Petroleum team tried to introduce novelty in the floral patterns, and felt that contests like these would bring in more women to the forefront of designing the patterns.

Teams led by K.V. Sajeesh from Malippuram; Reema Dineshan from Eroor; Jobby Jose from Kanjoor; P.B. Raghunandan from Eroor; Josy from Thripunithura; C.L. Prasanth from Elamakkara; M.J. Skaria from Edayar; T.R. Venu from Nayaramablam; Sanjay Chandran from Poonithura; and K.R. Jayaprasad from Maradu were among the consolation prize winners.

Harisree Ashokan, film artiste, gave away the first three prizes. Tata Sky was the title sponsor.

The associate sponsors were Amul and Sprinkle Salt. IFB was the prize sponsor. Bond Street Perfumes India Private Ltd. and Shree Devi Textiles were the gift sponsors. Bru was the beverage partner and Akbar Travels the travel partner.

Leji Abraham, an advocate who visited the contest, said that he was surprised by the quality and finish of the Pookkalams. A team, led by Jobby Jose, from Kanjoor, which won a consolation prize, put on show the use of a variety of local flowers and leaves, which are still available aplenty. He said that 36 varieties of flowers were used, of which only four were brought from the market, the rest having been collected from the wild or from gardens.

Pramod Kumar from the Tejus Nagar group, Palachuvadu, said that this was one of his first experiences of a contest and found it extremely interesting and instructive.

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