Puja
A Hindu act of worship, at home or in a temple, in which flowers are a main offering.
Also: pooja
Puja is worship offered to a deity, usually before an image. The worshipper offers water, light, incense, food and flowers, called pushpa in Sanskrit. Fresh flowers are expected, and traditions link certain flowers with certain deities: red hibiscus with Kali and Ganesha, lotus with Lakshmi, marigold and jasmine with many. Tulsi, the holy basil, is offered to Vishnu. Daily puja in millions of homes and temples is the main reason India grows such vast quantities of loose flowers.