Kochi : Police have identified a 22-year-old law student who was seen in a viral video allegedly kicking apart an Onam pookalam at Palarivattom in Kochi. The woman was served a police notice and let off on Tuesday after reportedly telling investigators that the incident was not intentional.
The incident, which took place on August 25, attracted widespread attention after CCTV footage showing the floral decoration being disturbed circulated on social media. The episode also triggered discussions about Onam, religious harmony and the need to avoid drawing conclusions from unverified claims surrounding viral videos.
Woman says incident was accidental
According to police, the woman had gone to the area with her mother to get photocopies and entered two establishments while looking for a photocopy facility. The second establishment was located in the building in front of which the pookalam had been arranged.
In an apology video that subsequently circulated on social media, the woman reportedly said she had been frustrated after being unable to complete the work for which she had gone there.
She also explained that ongoing Metro-related construction work in the area had made it difficult to walk along the stretch. According to her account, she was therefore forced to move towards the area where the pookalam had been placed.
She maintained that she accidentally stepped on or hit the floral decoration while passing through the spot and did not intend to damage it.
Woman apologises over the incident
The woman reportedly apologised to the Hindu community and acknowledged that her actions were inappropriate and could hurt religious sentiments.
She expressed regret over the incident and reiterated that it was the result of frustration rather than a deliberate attempt to cause offence.
Police subsequently served her a notice and allowed her to leave, while the case registered in connection with the incident remains an important part of the ongoing proceedings.
Pookalam was arranged as part of Onam celebrations
The incident occurred in front of Mint Jewellery near Mythili Mandiram, close to Metro Pillar No. 545.
An Onam pookalam had been arranged at the location as part of the festive celebrations. Pookalams, traditional floral decorations made during Onam, are an important part of the festival and are commonly created outside homes, institutions and commercial establishments.
The incident therefore attracted particular attention because the floral decoration had been prepared as part of a public celebration.
Earlier, Palarivattom police had registered a case against an unidentified woman after receiving a complaint alleging that the act was intended to create a disturbance in society. The FIR was registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Complaint was filed after video went viral
The complaint was submitted at the Palarivattom police station on August 29 by C G Rajagopal.
Rajagopal said he had seen the footage and wanted the authenticity of the incident to be established after claims circulated on social media that the video could have been artificially generated.
He later said that his concern was the alleged act of damaging the pookalam and not the woman’s religion or appearance. He also emphasised the broader significance of Onam as a festival associated with social and religious harmony.
Viral video had sparked wider controversy
The footage had generated considerable discussion online, with conflicting claims about where the incident took place and what had happened.
Earlier reports noted that the video had been wrongly circulated in some places as an incident from Bengaluru. Police subsequently established that the incident actually occurred at Palarivattom in Kochi.
The clarification is significant because viral videos can quickly acquire misleading captions and interpretations, particularly when they involve religion or community-related issues.
In this case, the identification of the location and the woman involved has helped police establish the circumstances surrounding the footage.
Focus turns to facts and social harmony
The incident has highlighted the importance of verifying information before sharing or interpreting viral material, especially when it has the potential to inflame community sentiments.
At the same time, the woman’s reported apology and explanation have added another dimension to the incident. While she maintains that the damage was accidental, the police case and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain matters for the authorities to deal with.
Onam is widely celebrated across Kerala as a festival that brings communities together through traditions including pookalams, feasts and cultural programmes. The controversy surrounding the Palarivattom incident has consequently prompted renewed discussion about maintaining mutual respect during public celebrations.
With the woman identified and questioned, the immediate mystery surrounding the person seen in the viral footage has been resolved. The episode now serves as a reminder that even seemingly small incidents can acquire much larger significance when they are recorded, shared and interpreted online.