Hindu flower traditions
Lotus, marigold, jasmine, hibiscus and the flowers each deity is offered.
Yellow ʻilimaSida fallax
A golden-yellow flower woven into Hawaiian and Pacific Island garlands
🇰🇮 Kiribati and 2 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Paper lantern
Lanterns made of paper for festivals, light, and celebration across Asia and beyond
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Parade or display
Wild Himalayan CherryPrunus cerasoides
A cherry tree with pinkish white blossoms from the Himalayas and Southeast Asia
🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Flowering tree
Flame of the forestButea monosperma
A tree with vivid orange-red flowers, sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions
🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Flowering tree
Nyctanthes arbor-tristisपारिजात
A fragrant night-flowering shrub with white and orange blossoms
🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Wildflower
Fragrant screw-pinePandanus odorifer
A small tropical tree with sweet-scented flowers used for perfume and rituals
🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Flowering tree
Decoration
Perfume
A scented liquid made from oils, flowers, and aromatics for body and space
🇫🇷 France and 6 more · Arrangement
Decoration
Kewraकेवड़ा
A fragrant extract from screwpine flowers used in food, worship, and perfume
🇮🇳 India · Offering or rite
Golden showerCassia fistula
A tree with long clusters of bright yellow flowers in late spring and early summer
🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Flowering tree
Decoration
Chinese New Year春节
The Spring Festival marked by red decorations, family gatherings, and flower displays
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Custom, Jan to Feb
Decoration
Garland
A string or braid of flowers, leaves, or other materials for decoration or ceremony
🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Garland or wreath
Decoration
Incense in Indiaअगरबत्ती
Fragrant sticks and powders used in worship, healing and daily life
🇮🇳 India · Offering or rite
Decoration
Varamalaवरमाला
A flower garland exchanged by bride and groom in Hindu weddings
🇮🇳 India · Garland or wreath
Decoration
Rangoliरंगोली
Indian floor art made with coloured powders, rice, or petals for festivals and daily welcome
🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Carpet or floor pattern
Decoration
Pushpanjaliपुष्पाञ्जलि
A flower offering in Hindu worship and classical dance
Offering or rite
Decoration
Onam
Kerala’s ten-day harvest festival with flower carpets, feasts and boat races
🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Custom, Aug to Sep
Decoration
Pohela Boishakhপহেলা বৈশাখ
Bengali New Year marked by processions, fairs, and flower-adorned gatherings
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 1 more · Custom, April
Decoration
Ashtamangalaअष्टमङ्गल
A sacred set of eight auspicious symbols in Indian religions
🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Art or design
Decoration
Attarअत्तर, عطر
Traditional natural perfume oil distilled from flowers, herbs, and spices
🇮🇳 India and 2 more · Flower craft
Decoration
Tiharतिहार
Nepal’s five-day festival of lights, flowers, animals, and sibling bonds
🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 more · Custom, Oct to Nov
ChampakMagnolia champaca
A tall tree with fragrant yellow to orange flowers, prized in South and Southeast Asia
🇲🇲 Myanmar and 7 more · Flowering tree
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Garland: No machine-readable author provided. Piotrus assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Varamala: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rangoli: SreeramKalyan, CC0, source
- Pushpanjali: Yosarian, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Onam: Jiteshgt, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pohela Boishakh: Abidhasan00, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ashtamangala: Redtigerxyz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Attar: Kerina yin, CC0, source
- Tihar: Sreekumar K. S., CC BY 2.0, source
- Champak: Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.), Public domain, source
- Yellow ʻilima: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, source
- Paper lantern: PhiloVivero, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wild Himalayan Cherry: Patcharapapats, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Flame of the forest: SumaTagadur 05:01, 28 March 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Nyctanthes arbor-tristis: J.M.Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fragrant screw-pine: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Perfume: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kewra: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Golden shower: Delonix, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chinese New Year: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Incense in India: Meanest Indian, CC BY 2.0, source