Flowers hold a sacred place in Indian folklore, woven into myths, legends, and spiritual narratives that have been passed down through millennia. As we celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, these stories remind us why flowers are so integral to our rituals and celebrations.

Divine Origins

The Parijat Tree – Heaven’s Gift to Earth

According to Hindu mythology, the Parijat (Night-flowering Jasmine) tree was one of the treasures that emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan). Lord Indra, king of the gods, planted it in his celestial garden. The story tells of how Krishna brought a parijat tree to Earth for his beloved Satyabhama, causing a war with Indra. The tree’s flowers, which bloom at night and fall at dawn, are said to never wilt when offered to deities—making them perfect for Diwali pujas that span from evening to morning.

The Lotus – Lakshmi’s Sacred Seat

The lotus holds perhaps the deepest folklore connection to Diwali, as Goddess Lakshmi—honored during this festival—is eternally associated with this flower. Legend says Lakshmi was born from a lotus that bloomed in the churning ocean, and she is always depicted seated or standing on a lotus. The flower’s ability to rise from muddy water and bloom pristinely represents spiritual enlightenment emerging from the material world. During Diwali, devotees believe that homes adorned with lotus motifs attract Lakshmi’s blessings of prosperity.

Flowers of the Gods

Champak – Lakshmi’s Favorite

Folklore tells us that the golden Champak flower is especially dear to Goddess Lakshmi. However, there’s a cautionary tale: the Champak tree once refused to testify for Lord Shiva, lying to protect itself, and was cursed never to be used in Shiva’s worship. Yet it remains auspicious for Lakshmi puja during Diwali, and its sweet fragrance is said to attract the goddess to devotees’ homes.

Hibiscus – The Blood Offering

In Bengali folklore, the red hibiscus (Jaba) is called “the flower of Kali.” Stories tell of how the goddess, in her fierce form, accepts the crimson blooms as symbolic offerings. During Kali Puja, celebrated alongside Diwali in Bengal, legends speak of how the flower’s red color represents shakti (divine feminine power). Ancient tales say that devotees who couldn’t afford animal sacrifices would offer hibiscus flowers instead, and the goddess would accept them with equal favor.

Jasmine – The Moon’s Tears

South Indian folklore speaks of jasmine flowers as the crystallized tears of the moon. According to legend, the moon god fell in love with a mortal woman, and when she died, his tears fell to earth and became jasmine buds. The flowers’ white color represents the moon’s purity, and their night-blooming nature connects them to lunar energy. During Diwali nights, jasmine garlands are believed to capture moonlight and bring divine blessings.

Cursed and Blessed Flowers

Ketaki – The Forbidden Flower

The Ketaki (Screw Pine) flower carries one of Indian folklore’s most famous curses. Legend tells that when Brahma and Vishnu argued over supremacy, a pillar of fire (Shiva) appeared. Brahma flew upward as a swan to find its top, while Vishnu dove downward as a boar to find its base. Brahma, unable to find the top, convinced the Ketaki flower to falsely testify that he had reached it. When the lie was discovered, Shiva cursed the Ketaki to never be used in worship. This story is told during Diwali to teach children about the importance of truth—a core value celebrated during the festival.

Tulsi – The Devoted Wife

The sacred Tulsi (Holy Basil) plant has a poignant folklore. Tulsi was once a devoted woman named Vrinda, wife of the demon king Jalandhar. Her chastity gave her husband invincibility. When Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar to break her vow, Vrinda cursed him to become a stone (the Shaligram). Moved by her devotion, Vishnu transformed her into the Tulsi plant, declaring that no worship would be complete without her. During Diwali, lighting a diya near the Tulsi plant is considered essential, as folklore says it brings Vishnu and Lakshmi’s blessings together.

Flowers in Epic Tales

The Ashoka Tree – Sita’s Shelter

The Ashoka tree, with its orange-red flower clusters, plays a vital role in the Ramayana—the epic whose culmination is celebrated during Diwali. When Sita was held captive in Lanka, she took refuge under an Ashoka grove. Folklore says the tree earned its name (meaning “without sorrow”) because it comforted Sita during her darkest hours. The tree’s flowers are said to bloom only when touched by a beautiful woman’s foot, symbolizing feminine energy and resilience.

Marigold – The Sun God’s Crown

Folk tales connect marigolds to Surya, the sun god. One story tells of a devotee who had nothing to offer but wild flowers she found near her home. She strung them into garlands with such devotion that Surya blessed the flowers with his golden radiance, creating marigolds. Their sun-like appearance and the way they follow sunlight are seen as the flower’s continued worship. During Diwali, marigold decorations are believed to invite solar energy and dispel darkness.

Regional Folk Beliefs

The Palash – Agni’s Flame

Central Indian folklore associates the Flame of the Forest (Palash) with Agni, the fire god. Tribal tales speak of how the first fire descended from heaven on a Palash tree, which is why its flowers blaze red-orange. During Diwali, when fire and light are worshipped, Palash flowers or leaves are sometimes used to make natural diya holders, connecting the earthly and divine flames.

Neelakurinji – The Bloom of Fortune

A rare flower from South Indian hills, the Neelakurinji blooms once every twelve years. Folklore says that witnessing its purple bloom brings twelve years of good fortune. Local tribes believe the flower is blessed by mountain deities. Though not typically used in Diwali, stories of rare flowers like Neelakurinji remind us that some blessings come through patience—a virtue celebrated during the festival’s spiritual reflections.

The Aparajita – The Unconquered

Bengali folklore tells of how the blue Aparajita (meaning “the unconquered one”) flower emerged from Goddess Durga’s battlefield. After her victory over demons, wherever her weapons touched the earth, these blue flowers bloomed as symbols of her invincible power. During Diwali’s Kali Puja in Bengal, these flowers represent divine protection against negative forces.

Folklore Wisdom for Diwali

The Five-Flower Offering

Ancient folklore speaks of the Pancha Pushpam (five flowers) offering that brings complete blessings:

• Lotus for purity and prosperity
• Hibiscus for power and devotion
• Jasmine for love and peace
• Marigold for auspiciousness
• Champak for wealth

Stories say that offering these five flowers with sincere devotion during Diwali’s Lakshmi Puja fulfills all desires—material and spiritual.

The Fragrance Connection

Folk wisdom teaches that flowers don’t just please the eyes but serve as bridges between worlds. Their fragrances are said to carry prayers upward to the heavens and draw divine presence downward to Earth. This is why Diwali celebrations emphasize fresh, fragrant flowers—their scent creates an invisible pathway for Lakshmi to find and bless each home.

Color Symbolism in Folk Tradition

• 紅色的花: Represent shakti and are offered for protection and power
• Yellow/Gold flowers: Attract wealth and are Lakshmi’s favorites
• White flowers: Symbolize purity and peace, pleasing to all deities
• Pink flowers: Embody love and domestic harmony
• Blue flowers: Rare and represent divine transcendence

Tales Told Through Flowers

The Gardener’s Reward

A popular folktale tells of a poor gardener who had nothing to offer Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali except the flowers he tended daily. While rich merchants brought gold and jewels, he brought simple marigolds and jasmine grown with love. That night, Lakshmi appeared in his dream, saying: “Your flowers, grown with devotion and offered with humility, are worth more than mountains of gold offered with pride.” He awoke to find his small garden transformed into a prosperous grove. This story teaches that sincere offerings matter more than expensive ones.

The Flower Seller’s Diwali

Another beloved tale speaks of a flower seller who, on Diwali evening, had one garland left. A poor woman wanted it for her puja but had no money. The seller gave it freely. That night, business multiplied a hundredfold, as Lakshmi herself—disguised as the poor woman—had tested his generosity. This story is told to children to teach that giving flowers (and kindness) without expectation brings the greatest rewards.

Modern Echoes of Ancient Folklore

These folklore traditions continue to shape how we celebrate Diwali today. When we:

• String marigold garlands for doorways, we’re invoking the sun god’s blessings
• Float lotus diyas in water, we’re honoring Lakshmi’s origin from the cosmic ocean
• Offer jasmine to deities, we’re presenting the moon’s sacred gift
• Light lamps near Tulsi, we’re acknowledging her eternal devotion
• Choose specific colored flowers, we’re speaking an ancient symbolic language

Florist viewpoint

The flowers of Diwali are never merely decorative. Each bloom carries centuries of stories, divine connections, moral lessons, and spiritual symbolism. As we celebrate this Festival of Lights, these folklore traditions remind us that flowers are living prayers—each petal a verse in the eternal song of devotion, each fragrance a bridge between the mortal and divine realms.

This Diwali, when you offer flowers to the goddess or decorate your home with garlands, remember: you’re participating in stories as old as the stars, continuing folklore that has illuminated countless Diwali nights before yours, and will continue to bloom in the celebrations of generations yet to come.

शुभ दीपावली (Shubh Deepavali) – May the flowers of devotion light your way!