Flower library · Pooja
Durva grass
Durva is the common Bermuda grass, called doob in Hindi and durva in Marathi. The tender tips are tied into small bunches and offered to Ganesha, and no Ganesh puja is thought complete without them. It is used daily in many homes and in very large quantities during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Cynodon dactylon · Doob · Durva · Durba · Arugampul · Garike
Season
Through the year; it is most lush in the monsoon, and supply tightens in peak summer and during Ganesh Chaturthi
Keeps
2–3 days wrapped and cool
Colours
Green
Grown in
Grows wild almost everywhere in India, in lawns, field edges and open ground; market supply is mostly collected locally
01
How to pick fresh
Family Poaceae
- aFresh durva has tender, bright green tips with soft blades, usually two or three leaf blades on each tip.
- bThe blades should be clean and free of mud, yellowing or dried ends.
- cTips are pinched or cut about three to four finger-widths long; long runners with roots are not what is offered.
- dWilted durva turns dull and folds; fresh tips stand up when held.
02
Durva grass in pooja
Durva is traditionally offered to Ganesha and is considered one of his favourite offerings. It is widely offered as small bunches, and by custom each bunch often has an odd number of tips, commonly three or five, with 21 bunches or 21 blades offered in many households during Ganesh Chaturthi and on Sankashti Chaturthi.
The tips are usually placed on the head or at the feet of the Ganesha image. Practice on the exact number of blades and bunches varies by family and region, and many homes simply offer a small fresh bunch each day.
Durva is also used in some other rituals, for example sprinkling water with it or placing it in a kalash, according to local custom.
Daily pooja flowers in Pune, by 7 am · from ₹1,600 a month →03
Keeping it fresh
- Rinse the bunches, shake off the water and wrap them in a damp cloth.
- Keep them in the fridge; they stay fresh two to three days.
- A small bowl of water with the cut ends dipped keeps a day's supply fresh on the altar.
- Avoid durva from roadsides or sprayed lawns; it can carry dust or chemicals.
04
Where it is used
- Offered to Ganesha daily in many homes and at every Ganesh puja.
- Used in large quantities during the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Used in some rituals such as weddings and naming ceremonies, depending on the community.
05
Durva grass in your city
Durva is in heavy demand in Pune during Ganesh Chaturthi; the rest of the year it is easy to find and keeps two days in the fridge.
In Delhi's dry summer durva wilts within hours at room temperature, so keep it wrapped in a damp cloth in the fridge.
Durva is plentiful in Indore after the rains; keep it cool and damp in the hot months.
Durva is easy to find in Chandigarh; in winter it grows slower and tips are shorter.
Mumbai's monsoon gives lush durva, and demand peaks sharply during Ganeshotsav.
Bangalore's mild weather keeps durva fresh for two to three days in the fridge.
Durva is widely sold in Hyderabad, especially around Vinayaka Chavithi; keep it refrigerated in summer.
Ahmedabad's dry heat dries durva quickly, so keep the bunches wrapped in damp cloth.
Durva is used widely in Bengali rituals and is easy to find in Kolkata through the year.
07
Questions
Why is durva offered to Lord Ganesha?
Durva is traditionally considered one of Ganesha's favourite offerings, and a story in the Puranas links it to him. It is offered as small bunches of tender tips at every Ganesh puja.
How many durva blades are offered to Ganesha?
By custom, bunches commonly have an odd number of tips, such as three or five, and 21 bunches or 21 durva are offered in many homes on Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti. Families follow their own practice.
How to keep durva grass fresh?
Rinse it, shake off the water, wrap it in a damp cloth and keep it in the fridge. It stays fresh for two to three days.
Is durva the same as ordinary lawn grass?
Durva is Cynodon dactylon, often called Bermuda grass, and it is the same species used in many lawns. For offering, clean tips from unsprayed ground are preferred.
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