Stringing Flowers of Maharashtra

Stringing flowers is considered to be an age old art in India because of its use for centuries. Flower stringing requires a special skill of hands to wrap a string around the delicate stems of flowers like jasmine in swift succession. In this craft, flowers are turned into accessories for adornment and for pleasing the gods. Temple deities are adorned with garlands of fresh flowers everyday. Flowers are also used to deck a bride and groom for good luck during their wedding.

To make a garland, flowers are threaded on a cotton string with a needle or held by a knot. Either a series of a single flower or a combination of colourful and contrasting flowers of different sizes are used to make a garland.

The flowers originally growing in the area or locally grown for their beauty are used in flower stringing. Lotus, jasmine, marigold, rajnigandha, mogara, champak and rose are some of the flowers made into garlands and wreaths.

Flowers are also used to make ornaments, torans, and gajra /hair adornment.