Garland: Difference between revisions

*[[Lei (garland)|Lei]] - the traditional garland of [[Hawaiʻi]]

*[[Mundamala]] - garland of severed heads or skulls, found in [[Hindu]] and [[Tibetan Buddhist]] iconography

A garland created from the [[Bellis|daisy]] flower (generally as a children's [[game]]) is called a daisy chain. One method of creating a daisy chain is to pick daisies and create a hole towards the base of the stem (such as with [[fingernails]] or tying a [[overhand knot|knot]]). The stem of the next flower can be threaded through until stopped by the head of the flower. By repeating this with many daisies, it is possible to build up long chains and to form them into simple [[bracelet]]s and [[necklace]]s.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BBC Gardening|title=Make a Daisy Chain|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/homegrownprojects_daisy.shtml|access-date=2 April 2013}}</ref> Another popular method involves pressing the flower heads against each other to create a look similar to a caterpillar.

In [[India]], where flower garlands have an important and traditional role in every festival, [[Hindu deities]] are decorated with garlands made from different fragrant flowers (often [[jasmine]]) and leaves.<ref>{{cite book| first=Gurcharan| last=Singh Randhawa| title=Floriculture in India| url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8170230578| page=606| year=1986| publisher=Allied Publishers| isbn=8170230578}}</ref> Both fragrant and non-fragrant flowers and religiously-significant leaves are used to make garlands to worship Hindu deities. Some popular flowers include:

Apart from these, leaves and grasses like [[Cynodon dactylon|arugampul]], maruvakam, [[Artemisia pallens|davanam]], maachi, paneer leaves, [[Chrysopogon zizanioides|lavancha]] are also used for making garlands. Also fruit, vegetables and sometimes even currency notes are used for garlands, given as [[sacrifice|thanksgiving]].

A [[gajra]] is a flower garland which women in India and [[Bangladesh]] wear in their hair during traditional festivals. It is commonly made with [[jasmine]]. It can be worn around a bun as well as in braids. Women usually wear these when they wear [[saree]]s. Sometimes, they are pinned in the hair with other flowers, such as roses.

In ancient times, [[Tamil Nadu|Tamil]] kings employed people to manufacture garlands daily for a particular deity. These garlands were not available for public consumption.  

In contemporary times, each Hindu temple in southern India has a ''[[nandavanam]]'' (flower garden) where flowers and trees for garlands are grown. Large Shiva temples like [[Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram]], [[Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur]] and [[Arunachaleswara Temple]], and those found in [[Thiruvannamalai]] still preserve such nandavanams for supplying flowers for daily rituals.  

At [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Srirangam Ranganathar temple]], only garlands made by temple ''sattharars'' ([[Brahmacharya|brahmacaris]] employed for garland-making)are used to adorn the deity [[Vishnu|Ranganatha]]. Garland and flowers from outside the temple grounds are forbidden. Sattarars have several disciplinary rules for many aspects of their profession, some of which include:

* Thodutha maalai - garlands made from the fiber of the banana tree (vaazhainaar). Common in marriage ceremonies and devotional offerings. In all Hindu marriages the bride and bridegroom exchange garlands three times. These garlands range in length from 1 1/2 feet to 12 feet and have a thickness that varies from 2 inches to 3/4 feet in diameter.

* Kortha maalai - made using needle and thread. Jasmine, mullai, and lotus garlands are made using this method. Malas for the gods have two free lower ends with kunjam (bunch of flowers), i.e. only the upper two ends are joined and the lower ends should not be not joined. They have two kunjams, whereas garlands for human use have both lower ends joined together (only one kunjam).

*{{Commonscat-inline|Garlands}}