Indian Garlands
In Indian culture, flower garlands or Malas represent Purity, Beauty, Peace, and Passion. They are often used in Indian temples, home puja rooms and as a sign of respect to deities. They are also worn by brides and grooms as a symbol of their acceptance of each other’s marriage proposal. Garlands are also given to family members departing for or returning from long journeys. It is also a tradition in Indian weddings to welcome guests with indian garlands. Often, the greeting is based on the ancient Indian dictum Atithi Devo Bhava or May the guest be a God unto you.
The importance of flowers in Hindu religion is not just their beauty of form, color and fragrance, but a deeper spiritual meaning as they are considered the food of the spirit. It is said that each flower has its own soul and they are all linked together in a sacred thread called the Shakti. The Indian Goddess Kali is believed to be the manifestation of this Shakti and is therefore often adorned with flowers as a sign of her power, beauty and grace.
During pooja (prayer) or any worship, flowers are offered to idols and deities in the hopes that they will delight the divine beings and bring good fortune. Besides, it is believed that certain flowers have special qualities and are more suitable for particular deities. For example, a garland made of durva (grass) is preferred for Lord Ganesha as the elephant headed god; while for Hanuman, it is the garland of ankada or crown flower; and for Shiva, the garland of dhatura or moonflower.
The Importance of Indian Garlands
The most common and popular flowers for making garlands are red roses, spider lilies, frangipani, paris and jasmine. The petals of these flowers are strung together by skilled artisans into a string, which can then be made into accessories for the hair or head adornments known as chaplets.
The man behind the counter in the image, whose name is Mr Prabu, sells the garland strings to customers from both within and outside the Indian community for various rituals and events including weddings. In addition to selling his stock, he is also responsible for tending the temple. His daily work involves removing and replacing wilted or dead garlands from the statues of the deities in the temple, as well as preparing them for new use in ceremonies and celebrations.
While many people would choose to have artificial flower garlands at an Indian wedding, the fact is that making them from fresh flowers is not that difficult, and can make for a very stunning decoration indeed. A simple and basic garland can be fashioned from yellow chrysanthemums, for instance, which are bound head-to-head in this beautiful example from Classy Flowers. You can also try using different colors for a more striking design, as shown in this example that features pinkish carnations.