Flower library · Pooja
Lotus
The lotus, kamal in Hindi and padma in Sanskrit, is India's national flower and one of the flowers most closely tied to Hindu and Buddhist worship. It grows in ponds and tanks, and the flowers reach markets as long-stemmed buds or half-open blooms. It is offered especially to Lakshmi and is in heavy demand at Diwali and during Durga Puja.
Nelumbo nucifera · Kamal · Padma · Kamalam · Pankaj
Season
Summer through the monsoon, roughly April–October; supply is thinner in winter and prices rise sharply around Diwali and Durga Puja
Keeps
1–2 days once open; buds kept cool hold 2–3 days
Colours
Pink, White, Pale pink with deeper tips
Grown in
Grown in ponds, lakes and tanks across India, with large supplies from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Kashmir, Maharashtra and the south
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How to pick fresh
Family Nelumbonaceae
- aBuy lotus as tight, pointed buds with firm outer petals; they open over the next day or two.
- bThe stem should be firm and green with its fine prickles intact, not limp or brown at the cut end.
- cPetals should be crisp and evenly coloured, pink or white, without brown bruising or water-soaked patches.
- dA fully open flower with loose petals and a visible seed head is near the end of its life.
- eFresh lotus has a faint sweet smell; a sour smell means it has been stored too long.
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Lotus in pooja
The lotus is traditionally associated with Lakshmi, who is often shown seated on a lotus and holding one, and it is offered to her at Diwali and at Lakshmi Puja. It is also associated with Vishnu, Brahma and Saraswati in Hindu imagery, and with the Buddha in Buddhist worship.
In Bengal and eastern India, 108 lotus flowers are traditionally offered during Sandhi Puja in Durga Puja, which is one reason lotus becomes scarce in autumn. Practices differ by region and family, and in many homes a single lotus is offered on special days rather than daily.
Because lotus is seasonal and costly outside summer and the monsoon, it is usually added to daily pooja packs on festival days rather than every day.
Daily pooja flowers in Pune, by 7 am · from ₹1,600 a month →03
Keeping it fresh
- Keep buds with their stems in water in a cool, shaded spot until they are needed.
- To slow opening, wrap the bud head in damp paper or cloth and refrigerate it overnight.
- To open a bud for pooja, some people gently fold back the outer petals by hand; this is a household custom and bruises the petals if done roughly.
- Re-cut the stem under water each day if you are keeping it in a vessel.
- Do not leave lotus in direct sun or in a hot car; the petals scorch and droop within hours.
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Where it is used
- Offered in home and temple worship, especially on Fridays and at Lakshmi Puja.
- Used in large numbers during Durga Puja in Bengal and eastern India.
- Floated in bowls and urlis at entrances and on altars.
- Used as a single flower in formal and ceremonial settings.
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Lotus in your city
Lotus reaches Pune mainly in the monsoon and around Diwali; buds keep a day or two in the fridge.
Delhi's summer heat opens and wilts lotus within a day, so keep buds in water in the fridge until the morning of use.
Lotus in Indore is available from local tanks in season; refrigerate buds in the hot months.
Lotus is less common in Chandigarh markets and is best ordered ahead of festivals.
Mumbai gets lotus through the monsoon; the humidity softens petals, so use it within a day.
Bangalore's mild weather lets lotus buds hold a little longer than in the north.
Lotus is available in Hyderabad in summer and the monsoon; keep buds cool and use them within two days.
Ahmedabad's dry heat opens lotus quickly, so keep the head wrapped in damp cloth in the fridge.
Kolkata has the largest lotus supply of these cities, but demand during Durga Puja makes it scarce and costly that week.
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Get it delivered
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Questions
Which flower is offered to Goddess Lakshmi?
The lotus is the flower most traditionally associated with Lakshmi and is offered at Diwali and Lakshmi Puja. Many families also offer red flowers such as rose or hibiscus, and customs vary by region.
How to keep lotus flowers fresh?
Buy them as tight buds, keep the stems in water in a cool place, and wrap the head in damp paper and refrigerate it overnight to slow opening. An open lotus lasts about a day.
How to open a lotus bud for pooja?
A bud opens by itself in a day or two in warm room air. Some people fold back the outer petals by hand to open it on the day; this bruises the petals if done roughly.
When is lotus available in India?
Lotus is plentiful from summer through the monsoon, about April to October. It becomes scarce and expensive during Durga Puja and Diwali.
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