Photo credits : Ramesh Kidangoor

Flowers are an integral part of Indian festivals; people use them on a daily basis for offerings to their gods and goddesses at home.  In India, people come door-to-door, similar to the way milk men make deliveries, and provide fresh flowers to every household — the large demand for floral offerings is catered to by the flower markets prominent in almost every major city in India.

The most common flowers used are marigold, which are part of decorations on almost every occasion.  Besides their importance for poojas and ceremonies, flowers are also used during festivals and marriages. South Indian women often wear strings of jasmine in their hair. The flowers represent freshness, pleasing all the senses of the body, from its delicate touch, sweet fragrance, vibrant display of colors as well as taste.

Flowers like roses are also used to make “gulkand,” a preserve made of rose petals.

Flower market , Mysore