Among India’s most beloved
blossoms, the Marigold (Samanthi in Tamil, Genda in Hindi) stands out with its
brilliant orange and yellow hues that mirror the warmth of the sun. It is the
flower of the people — vibrant, accessible, and woven into the rhythm of
everyday Indian life. Its presence graces temples, weddings, and festivals
across the country, making it not only a symbol of devotion but also of joy,
community, and continuity.
In Hindi folk songs and Gujarati
garbas, marigold garlands appear as tokens of auspicious beginnings —
representing purity, energy, and optimism. They decorate doorways during
Diwali, adorn deities in temples, and find mention in verses celebrating
prosperity and togetherness. The flower’s hardy nature and radiant colour have
made it a metaphor for resilience and endurance — qualities deeply admired in
Indian thought.
Across regional literatures, the
marigold has been celebrated as a symbol of festivity and divine favour. In Bengali
poetry, the genda becomes a humble yet sacred offering to the Mother Goddess
during Durga Puja, its fragrance mingling with the devotion of the season. In Tamil
devotional songs, the samanthi is offered to Lord Murugan and Amman,
representing a simple, unpretentious faith that shines in daily worship.
1.
“सास गारी देवे / देवर जी समझा लेवे / ससुराल गेंदा फूल …”
Here the in-law’s house (ससुराल) is
metaphorically compared to a marigold flower.
The commentary explains that the marigold is used to convey how relationships
in the household may appear bright & welcoming initially (like the flower)
but may shift colour (i.e., change) over time.
This is a clear literary/folk use of the marigold, tying the flower’s visual
and symbolic qualities (colour, brightness, commonality) to social-life and
relationships.
2. Religious/Devotional Imagery in
Sufi Poetry
In an article titled “Amir Khusrau
and the Mustard Flowers” the author notes that marigolds appear in devotional
songs/poems (Hindi/Urdu) as part of the imagery of waiting, offering, nature
and spiritual longing:
“And with marigolds in hand …
waiting … for the beloved for years and years.”
While the primary flower may appear as mustard, the marigold is used alongside
to evoke colour (yellow), devotion, offering, natural beauty. This shows that
the marigold is used not just in everyday ritual but in literary/spiritual
metaphors.
3. Here the Tamil term सामन्थि (சாமந்தி)
is used for a flower garland (mālai) made of marigolds. “எல்லா கடவுளுக்கும் பிடித்த சாமந்திப்பூ மாலை” (The marigold
garland beloved of all gods).
This is a ritual/ devotional usage
showing how marigold is used in Tamil devotional culture.
“இல்லா கடவுளுக்கும் பிடித்த சாமந்திப்பூ மாலை” and point out how the marigold
garland is offered to deities, thus marking the flower as taking part in the
divine realm.
Beyond literature, the marigold’s
story is deeply tied to the Indian soil. It grows easily in varied climates —
from Himalayan foothills to coastal plains — a flower of abundance and
adaptability. Its bright colours are associated with the sun’s life-giving
force and are used to craft rangolis, wedding torans, and festive decorations
that light up every celebration.
The marigold thus becomes more
than a flower; it is a symbol of divine radiance and earthy simplicity,
bridging the sacred and the everyday. Through songs, rituals, and stories, it
reminds us that beauty need not be rare or royal — sometimes it blooms right in
our courtyards, bright and eternal as faith itself.
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