Festival Flowers: What to Use for Each Festival

Indian festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move a little each year, but the flowers and leaves families reach for stay remarkably constant. This guide goes through the festivals we prepare for at Spice Town Flowers, roughly in calendar order, with the flowers and leaves commonly used for each. Customs vary by region and family, so treat these as common practices rather than fixed rules.

Before each festival we open a dedicated collection. Items marked Festival dates only can be picked up only on that festival's dates; everything else can be picked up on any day offered in the cart. See all festival collections.

Pongal and Makar Sankranti (January)

The mid-January harvest festival is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and Makar Sankranti in other parts of India (in Punjab, Lohri is celebrated the evening before). Homes are cleaned, doorways are decorated with kolam or rangoli, and mango leaf torans go up over the entrance. In Tamil homes, the Pongal pot is often tied with a fresh turmeric plant, and the festival meal is served on banana leaves.

Useful to have: mango leaves and banana leaves, flower strings for the pooja, and loose flowers to decorate the kolam. See the Pongal and Sankranti collection.

Maha Shivaratri (February or March)

The great night of Lord Shiva is observed with fasting, night-long prayer and abhishekam. Bilva (bael) leaves are the most traditional offering. Erukkam (calotropis) flowers and garlands are also offered to Shiva in many traditions, along with white flowers.

Useful to have: white flowers such as jasmine, mullai and sampangi, and betel leaves for the pooja. Our erukkam is sold for Ganesh Chaturthi dates only, so call us if you need it for Shivaratri. Erukkam is for pooja use only and is not for eating. See the Maha Shivaratri collection.

Ugadi (March or April)

Ugadi marks the new year for families from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. Doorways are hung with fresh mango leaf torans, and families prepare Ugadi pachadi, a mix of six tastes that stand for the different experiences of the year ahead.

Useful to have: mango leaves for the toran, flower strings and loose flowers for the pooja, and betel leaves. See the Ugadi collection.

Varalakshmi Vratham (July or August)

Observed by many women in South India on the Friday before the full moon of the month of Shravana, Varalakshmi Vratham honors Goddess Lakshmi. A kalasam is set up and decorated as the goddess, with mango leaves in its mouth and a coconut on top, and adorned with flowers and a small garland. Lotus, Lakshmi's own flower, is a favorite offering.

Useful to have: a kalasam garland (kalasa mala), lotus, jasmine or mullai strings, mango leaves and betel leaves. See the Varalakshmi Vratham collection.

Ganesh Chaturthi (August or September)

Ganesh Chaturthi (Vinayaka Chaturthi) celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. In many homes the pooja includes pathri, an offering of many kinds of sacred leaves, along with durva grass and red flowers. In Tamil homes, an erukkam garland for Vinayagar is a familiar sight.

Useful to have: a pathri leaves and flowers pack, an erukkam garland, loose flowers and mango leaves. See the Ganesh Chaturthi collection.

Onam (August or September)

Kerala's harvest festival is famous for the pookalam, a carpet of flowers laid out in front of the home, built up over the ten days of the festival. Onam sadya, the festive meal, is served on banana leaves.

Useful to have: loose flowers in several colors for the pookalam and banana leaves for the sadya. See the Onam collection.

Navaratri (September or October)

Nine nights devoted to the Goddess in her forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. In many South Indian homes, a golu (bommai kolu) display of dolls is arranged on steps, and visiting women are offered thamboolam with betel leaves. Flowers are offered every evening, and the festival ends with Saraswati Pooja, Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami.

Useful to have: jasmine and mullai strings for daily pooja and for hair, betel leaves for thamboolam, lotus, roses and a kalasam garland. Plan for nine days, not one. See the Navaratri collection.

Diwali (October or November)

The festival of lights centers on Lakshmi pooja for many families. Homes are lit with diyas, entrances get rangoli and mango leaf torans, and marigold garlands are hung across doors and windows. Lotus is offered to Lakshmi, and petals are used in rangoli and to decorate the pooja thali.

Useful to have: lotus, mango leaves, marigold and rose garlands, loose petals for rangoli and flower strings. See the Diwali collection.

Karthigai Deepam (November or December)

Celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai, this festival of lamps is marked by rows of small clay lamps (agal vilakku) lit around the home in the evening. Families also hold a pooja with flowers.

Useful to have: flower strings and loose flowers for the pooja, and betel leaves. See the Karthigai Deepam collection.

Tips for ordering festival flowers

Order early. Festival weeks are our busiest, and some items are limited. Festival collections open a while before each festival.
Pick the right day. For festivals that run over several days, think about which day you need the flowers. For Navaratri, some families pick up more than once.
Store them well. If you pick up the day before, keep strings and loose flowers refrigerated, wrapped in a damp cloth. See our flower care guide.
Need garlands? Garlands are made to order, so send a custom garland request at least 7 days ahead, and more during festival season.
Ordering for a temple or community event? Use the bulk and temple order form.

Not sure what you need for a particular festival or pooja? Call us at 860-237-4280, or read our guide to Indian flowers for pooja.