Flower library · Vase and office · Pooja
Marigold
Marigold, called genda in Hindi and zendu in Marathi, is the most widely used flower in Indian worship and festival decoration. It is sold loose by weight, strung into garlands and torans, and offered at home shrines and temples across the country. The orange and yellow African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is the one most markets carry.
Tagetes erecta · Genda · Zendu · Chendumalli · Banti
Season
October–February at its best and cheapest; grown through the year, with prices rising in the monsoon and before Diwali and Dussehra
Vase life
2–3 days loose; 3–5 days in a garland kept cool
Colours
Orange, Yellow, Lemon yellow, Deep orange-red (French marigold)
Grown in
Grown widely across India, with large areas in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and around most large cities
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How to pick fresh
Family Asteraceae
- aA fresh flower head is round, firm and tightly packed with petals; press it lightly and it springs back.
- bThe colour is even, bright orange or yellow, with no brown or papery petal edges.
- cThe green base under the head (the calyx) should be firm and green, not soft, black or slimy.
- dStale marigold smells sour and sheds petals when shaken; fresh flowers have a sharp, clean, slightly bitter smell.
- eIn a garland, check the inner flowers too, since they heat up and brown first.
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Marigold in pooja
Marigold is traditionally offered to most deities and is the everyday flower of Hindu worship in much of India. Its orange and yellow colours are widely associated with auspicious occasions, and marigold garlands are placed on images of deities, on doorways and on vehicles and tools during Dussehra.
During festivals the demand is highest: Dussehra, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri all use marigold garlands and torans in large numbers. Garlands are also used to honour guests and at weddings. Customs on which flowers go to which deity vary by family and region, and marigold is generally treated as suitable for all.
In our Daily Pooja Flowers packs, marigold is the usual base flower, with other flowers and leaves added according to the pack.
Daily pooja flowers in Pune, by 7 am · from ₹1,600 a month →03
Keeping it fresh
- Keep loose flowers in a basket or open bag, not a sealed plastic bag, so heat does not build up.
- For more than a day, wrap them in damp cloth or newspaper and keep them in the lower part of the fridge.
- Sprinkle garlands lightly with water in the evening and hang them in a cool, shaded place.
- Remove any browning heads from a pile; one rotting flower spoils its neighbours quickly.
- Used flowers can go into a compost pit or garden bed rather than the dustbin.
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Where it is used
- Offered loose and as garlands at home shrines and temples every day.
- Strung into torans for doorways during Diwali, Dussehra, Gudi Padwa and weddings.
- Used as loose petals for rangoli and floor decoration at festivals.
- Used in large quantities for stage, mandap and entrance décor at events.
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Marigold in your city
Marigold is plentiful in Pune through the winter from growers near the city, and keeps two to three days in the cool months.
Delhi's dry summer heat browns marigold within a day, so keep it in the fridge from May to June; winter flowers keep well.
Indore gets steady supply from Madhya Pradesh growers; in the hot months keep flowers wrapped and refrigerated.
Winter marigold in Chandigarh keeps well at room temperature; summer heat shortens it to about a day.
Mumbai's humidity makes marigold go soft and mouldy quickly, especially in the monsoon, so use it the same day or refrigerate it.
Bangalore's mild weather and nearby Karnataka growers give good marigold for most of the year.
Marigold is easily available in Hyderabad; in April and May keep it in the fridge overnight.
Ahmedabad's dry heat dries marigold out fast in summer, so wrap it in damp cloth and refrigerate it.
Kolkata has a large marigold supply from Bengal growers; the humid months call for same-day use or refrigeration.
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Get it delivered
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Questions
How to keep marigold flowers fresh?
Keep them loose in an open basket, not a closed plastic bag. For longer keeping, wrap them in a damp cloth or newspaper and keep them in the lower part of the fridge. Take out any browning flowers so they do not spoil the rest.
Why is marigold used in pooja?
Marigold is traditionally treated as suitable for offering to most deities, and it is available and affordable across India for most of the year. Its bright colour is widely associated with festivals and auspicious occasions.
When is marigold season in India?
Marigold is at its best from October to February. It is grown through the year, but supply is lower and prices higher in the monsoon, and demand peaks around Dussehra and Diwali.
What to do with old marigold flowers after pooja?
Many families put used flowers into a garden bed, a compost pit or a flower-collection bin rather than the dustbin. Marigold composts easily.
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