Sacred Blooms
Sacred Blooms
by Manjeet Dhillon
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sarongtrails
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Exploring Asia’s Rituals Through Flowers
It’s not uncommon for me to stumble upon something that sparks an idea, like the time I passed the side lanes of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (K.L>), where garland makers strung marigolds, jasmine, and roses into malas for temple offerings. Or that day on a cultural walk when I spotted a flower vendor preparing blooms for a mandi bunga, a traditional floral bath designed to cleanse the body and spirit. These fleeting moments often set my thoughts in motion, and before I know it, I find myself immersed in a deep thought.
You see, flowers have an uncanny way of weaving themselves into my life in the most unexpected ways. Whether it’s a YouTube video about canang sari or an event discussing bunga rampai, I find myself pulled into the narratives of how flowers are part of rituals and daily lives of different cultures across Asia. This is where my serendipitous thinking comes into play, I begin to see how flowers, some not native to the regions, have found their place in diverse cultural expressions, symbolising gratitude, reverence, and hope. I start to wonder: where did these flowers come from? Which ones were native, and which were brought from faraway lands? And how have we adopted them into our traditions, turning petals into prayers, blessings, and symbols?
This journey has led me to explore how flowers, whether frangipani in Bali’s canang sari, marigolds in Hindu offerings, or jasmine in the delicate garlands of the Philippines, have come to symbolise so much more than just beauty. They are the language of our ancestors, the thread that binds spiritual practices and cultural stories. Each flower carries with it centuries of significance, tied to beliefs, ceremonies, and rituals that transcend borders.
| Country | Offering | Description | Flowers Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | Canang Sari | A daily offering made to the gods, often placed on shrines or temples. It represents gratitude and harmony. | Frangipani (plumeria), jasmine, hibiscus, and roses. Flowers are arranged in small, woven baskets. |
| Cambodia | Baysei | A floral offering in Khmer ceremonies, used to honour ancestors, gods, or for blessings at weddings. | Marigolds, jasmine, and lotus, often presented in banana-leaf or coconut-leaf structures. |
| China | Flower Bowls (Huapan) | Floral bowls placed on altars for Buddhist and Taoist rituals, symbolising purity and spiritual focus. | Lotus, peonies, and chrysanthemums, often mixed with fruits like oranges and pomegranates. |
| India | Mala (for temples) | A garland of flowers offered to deities during worship, symbolising purity and devotion. | Jasmine, marigold, rose, and lotus. Jasmine is particularly revered for its fragrance. |
| Japan | Ikebana-style Temple Offerings | Minimalist floral arrangements placed at temples to honour spirits and deities, reflecting Zen aesthetics. | Chrysanthemums, lotus, and camellia, carefully arranged to reflect harmony and nature. |
| Laos | Phakhouan | A conical arrangement made from banana leaves, used in baci ceremonies to honour ancestors and seek blessings. | Marigolds, jasmine, and roses, often combined with sacred threads and symbolic items like rice. |
| Laos | Phan (Floral Offering) | A ceremonial floral arrangement often used in Buddhist rituals and festivals. | Jasmine, frangipani, marigold, and orchids. Often arranged in a tiered structure or garlands. |
| Malaysia | Bunga Manggar | Decorative floral arrangements made for weddings and ceremonial arches, symbolising prosperity. | Artificial flowers often used, but real palm fronds and fresh flowers like jasmine are incorporated. |
| Bunga Rampai | A fragrant mix of flowers used in ceremonial occasions and religious offerings by the Peranakan community | Jasmine, roses, marigold, frangipani, and other fragrant flowers like orchids. | |
| Myanmar | Thanakha Flowers | Flowers offered at pagodas and temples, sometimes placed alongside traditional offerings like rice. | Jasmine, marigold, and temple flowers (ngwet yi), often arranged in small clay pots or bamboo trays. |
| Philippines | Sampaguita Garlands | Used in religious processions and as offerings in Catholic rituals, symbolising devotion and purity. | Sampaguita (Philippine jasmine), occasionally mixed with roses or orchids. |
| Sri Lanka | Pooja Flowers | Offered at Buddhist temples to pay homage to Buddha, symbolising impermanence and purity. | Lotus, jasmine, marigold, frangipani, and sometimes temple flowers like hibiscus. |
| Thailand | Phuang Malai | A garland offering made from flowers, often presented to spirits or used in Buddhist ceremonies. | Jasmine, marigold, orchids, and roses. Often used in combination for their fragrance and symbolism. |
As I continue to uncover these stories, I realise that flowers, with their simplicity and grace, hold a remarkable power to connect people, places, and traditions. Take a walk with your imagination: consider the vibrant flower markets of Jalan Tun H. S. Lee, where pussy willows are waiting to be claimed and placed in homes to usher in Chinese New Year, symbolising spring’s arrival. Coincidentally, across the ocean in Germany, the same flower is used for Easter, to hang colourful eggs.
It’s not just about these fleeting moments or the Instagram snapshot; it’s about taking a moment to observe, to look around, and to appreciate the profound connections that link us all. From the streets of Kuala Lumpur to the temples of Bali, each petal carries a story—a legacy of the past and a symbol of hope for the future.