Lotus

The text celebrates the beauty and significance of flowers in Indian culture, focusing particularly on the Lotus, India’s national flower. Flowers, existing long before humans, have captivated mankind with their awe-inspiring beauty, inspiring art, poetry, and reflection on life when they wither.

India, being home to a vast variety of flowering plants, hosts both indigenous species and exotic varieties that thrive in its diverse ecological conditions, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, Rajasthan to Assam. Flowers adorn every landscape in India, from plains to hills, banks to trellises, walls to trees, and even the lofty heights of the Himalayas.

The Lotus holds a special place in Indian tradition and mythology, believed to have emerged from the navel of Vishnu, enveloping Brahma in its petals. Symbolizing beauty, perfection, and sanctity, the Lotus has been revered in rituals and used extensively in various art forms like architecture, jewelry, pottery, embroidery, painting, and sculpture.

A fully bloomed Lotus flower, measuring around 30 centimeters across, boasts fragrant petals in pastel shades of pink, with red and white varieties also present. Contrary to popular belief, the “Blue Lotus of India” is not a Lotus but a water-lily. Its saucer-shaped, glossy leaves, spanning 60-90 centimeters, float above water on prickly stalks. Additionally, Lotus seeds and rhizomes are edible, adding another dimension to its significance in Indian culture.