The first surprise at the flower market is that in India they cut away the stem of most flowers. Flowers, or just petals, are placed in bowls, called Urli Bowls. They are used in rituals, or to decorate homes. An Urli bowl can be of brass, marble or other materials.
You always find an offering of flowers at the entrance of a Hindu temple.
Another way to use these stemless flowers is to weave them into garlands. Wedding and celebrations are flooded with impressive displays of thousands of flower garlands everywhere. Bride and groom exchange garlands as a part of the wedding ritual.
All markets in India are colorful – but a flower market is an explosion of colors. The effect of these petals, with predominant warm yellow and orange is truly stunning.
Among them, the most beautiful and most significant is the lotus flower, with its hues of pink and fuchsia. Many Hindu, Buddhist and Jain deities are represented either with a lotus flower in their hands or sitting on a lotus throne.
You go early morning to avoid the heat; the crowd is unavoidable at any hour.
Everyone is busy carrying heavy bags or selling, cutting, cleaning, moving, and discussing.
From time to time, in the middle of this hustling and bustling, you stop and see: You notice how beautiful these decorations are and are reminded of the deep significance of flowers in Indian culture, as they represent purity, beauty and spirituality. Lord Krishna himself says that he accepts any offering of flowers done with devotion and love.
I am traveling and looking for the best Urli Bowls I can find for my website Sattva Best of India. Some are already showing in the site, many others – the most inspiring I can find, will be added soon.
