Ganesh Chaturthi is usually celebrated during August and September. During this time, due to the monsoon season that begins in June, lots of plants will be in flower. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for ten days in many places in India. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. He is a highly popular deity in the Hindu pantheon. Devotees believe that he will remove obstacles in their life and help them to achieve success and happiness. One of his many names, Vighneswara, means ‘the god who removes obstacles’. People who wish to begin new ventures always seek his blessings.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival in some states. If you are doing Pooja for Lord Ganesha on all ten days, here are ten different flowers that you can offer him every day:
- Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis (The shoe flower): This is a perennial that blooms all through the year. Most Indian households with a garden will have this plant. It comes in many colors like red, white, pink, and orange. The single, red-flowered variety is commonly offered to Ganesha. Hibiscus is also the favorite flower of the elephant-headed deity. This flower can be used on all ten days of the festival.
- Impatiens balsamina (Balsam):
This plant is an annual herb and tends to grow well during the monsoon period. In India, one can see the wild balsam with pink blooms growing wild along the roadside and in agricultural fields. These wildflowers bloom around the time of the festival. People offer garden variety Balsam for the Ganesh Pooja.
- Gloriosa superba (Glory lily):
This is also a wild Indian plant that grows and flowers profusely during the rains. It looks very unusual and is truly a lovely sight to behold. As the flower matures, the petals become longer and become wrinkled. They arch backwards gradually, and their colors change from green to yellow to scarlet. The plant has medicinal qualities and is a climber. Hill turmeric and glory lily are offered for Gauri Pooja, too, in Maharashtra.
- Curcuma pseudomontana (Hill turmeric):
This is a wild plant that flowers during the rainy season. It is a tuberous plant and erect herb that is used to make medicines. The inflorescence appears rather unique. The flowers are large and conspicuous. Villagers collect them from forest edges during the Ganesh festival.
- Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Parijat):
This is a very significant plant in Indian mythology, and it is mentioned in the Mahabharata. The plant is a small tree or tall shrub. The flowers resemble jasmine and are very fragrant. The blooms have white petals that have an orange base. They bloom early in the morning and fall down in clusters creating a lovely carpet.
- Michelia champaca (Golden Champa):
This medium-sized tree has long leaves with wavy margins that are similar to mango leaves. The golden flowers are aromatic and silky. Usually, one can find it growing on avenues and in parks and compounds. The tree puts forth flowers during the rainy season, and the flowers are sold in most flower markets.
- Punica granatum (Pomegranate flower):
This is a garden plant and is called ornamental pomegranate. People grow it for its flowers more than its fruits. Quite tall and bushy, it has double red flowers growing on erect branches. These flowers bloom during the monsoon season. They are offered when Hibiscus is not available.
- Mimusops elengi (Maulsari/bakul):
This evergreen, medium-sized tree is spherical in shape. The tiny, cream-colored flowers are delicate and fragrant. The flowers are used to make hair-bands and garlands. Lots of flowers drop from the tree, forming a floral carpet on the ground. It blooms well during the time of the Ganesh festival.
- Pandanus odoratissimus (Ketaki):
The plant grows wild at the edges of farmlands, beaches, and shrubs. It has large, leathery, strap- like leaves that are long, spiny at the margin, and arranged in spirals. It can grow around 18 m tall, and its flowers are highly scented. During Ganeshotsav, these flowers are available in the flower markets.
- Chrysanthemum
Plenty of varieties of annual and perennial Chrysanthemum are available in flower markets. Those that flower during the monsoon are used during Ganesh Chaturthi. Very few garden flowers come in such diverse and beautiful colors and shapes.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2021/Vinayagar Chaturthi 2021 is on September 10.
