A Guide to Native Indian Flowers for Diwali Celebrations

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is beautifully adorned with flowers across India. Each region boasts its own native blooms that add color, fragrance, and auspiciousness to the celebrations. Here’s a guide to the diverse floral heritage of India’s regions:

Northern India

Marigold (Genda) The quintessential Diwali flower, marigolds grow abundantly across northern plains. Their vibrant orange and yellow blooms are woven into garlands, scattered at doorsteps, and used to create elaborate rangoli borders. The hardy nature of marigolds makes them perfect for the autumn festivities.

Lotus (Kamal) Sacred in Hindu tradition, the lotus thrives in the water bodies of northern regions. Its pink and white petals symbolize purity and prosperity—ideals central to Diwali. Though not typically strung as garlands, lotus flowers often grace temple offerings.

Rose (Gulab) Native varieties flourish in the cooler northern climate, particularly in regions like Punjab and Uttarakhand. Red and pink roses are offered to deities and used in decorative arrangements during the festival.

Southern India

Jasmine (Mogra/Mallika) South India’s most beloved flower, jasmine’s intoxicating fragrance fills homes during Diwali. Women traditionally wear jasmine garlands in their hair, and the flowers are essential for temple offerings, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Champak (Champa) This golden-yellow flower with its heavenly scent is native to the Western Ghats and southern forests. Its flowers are considered highly auspicious and are used in religious ceremonies throughout Diwali celebrations.

Parijat (Night-flowering Jasmine) With delicate white petals and orange stems, parijat flowers carpet the ground at dawn. In southern regions, these fragrant blooms are collected fresh each morning for puja rituals during the festival.

Eastern India

Red Hibiscus (Jaba) Particularly significant in Bengal and Odisha, the bright red hibiscus is offered to Goddess Kali during Diwali. This hardy flower grows wild across eastern regions and is deeply woven into local traditions.

Butterfly Pea (Aparajita) This vibrant blue flower native to eastern forests is used in Diwali decorations and traditional medicine. Its unique color adds diversity to the typical orange and red festival palette.

Oleander (Kaner) Growing abundantly in eastern states, oleander’s pink, white, and red blooms are used in temple decorations, though they’re handled carefully as the plant is toxic.

Western India

Tagar (Crape Jasmine) Native to the western coastal regions, this white flower with its pinwheel petals is valued for its beauty and fragrance during Maharashtra’s Diwali celebrations.

Flame of the Forest (Palash) Though spring-flowering, this tree native to western and central India holds cultural significance. When available, its brilliant orange-red flowers are used in traditional decorations.

Mogra (Arabian Jasmine) While found across India, certain varieties thrive particularly well in western regions. The small white flowers are strung into delicate garlands for Lakshmi Puja.

Central India

Bel (Wood Apple) Flowers Native to central Indian forests, the fragrant flowers of the bel tree are considered sacred to Lord Shiva and are used in religious ceremonies during Diwali.

Kachnar (Mountain Ebony) This tree produces beautiful pink and white orchid-like flowers native to central regions. The blooms are used both for decoration and in traditional cuisine.

Kadamba With its spherical orange-yellow flower clusters, the kadamba tree is native to central forests and holds significance in Hindu mythology, making its flowers special during festival time.

Tips for Using Native Flowers

• Freshness: Collect or purchase flowers early morning when they’re freshest
• Sustainability: Choose locally grown native species to support biodiversity
• Combinations: Mix flowers from your region for authentic, fragrant garlands
• Offerings: Different deities have flower preferences—red for Lakshmi, yellow for Ganesha
• Preservation: Keep flowers in cool water and mist regularly to maintain freshness throughout the five-day festival

This Diwali, celebrating with native flowers not only honors tradition but also supports local ecosystems and the cultural heritage unique to each Indian region.