Flower garlands - a thriving business

By Ananda KANNANGARA

Garlands made of natural flowers are mostly used by devotees to fulfil vows. Buddhists, Hindus and even Muslims use garlands of flowers for fulfilling vows. Particular types of flowers are threaded together using the dried part of the plantain tree. In Tamil it is known as ‘Naar’. The reason for using this may be attributed to its strength and long-lasting capability.

Now however, it has been replaced with twine. Using garlands in worship is an age-old tradition.

Making garlands with fresh flowers is a common scene at religious places in the city today. This is a rare business done by a certain section in our society. Although a very few people are engaged in garland-making, more than 700 families depend on this industry. A leading garland maker at St Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade in Colombo says the industry has a history of over 1,000 years.

According to our history, even the queens of famous kings who ruled the country had used garlands made by village damsels. Legend has it that a beautiful village damsel helped her parents to pick flowers and make garlands for their living. It was unbelievable that this village damsel, called Asokamala later married to prince Saliya.

The prince during his daily routine, one morning had spotted this village damsel picking flowers and made garlands. He had a longing for these beautiful flowers and requested some from her. She parted with her flowers with the young prince who was to be the next king. This was the beginning of the famous Saliya-Asokamala romance. It was later revealed that the garland was made out of Asokamal (Asoka flowers). This is a very popular wild flower and it could be seen even today in our villages.

History also reveals that even during the colonial era after the invasion of the Portuguese in 1505, the village damsel had sold garlands that were made out of wild flowers to foreigners. The Dutch and British rulers had travelled to villages in search of garlands for their official functions. Not only kings, but also their wives were impressed with the art of making garlands.

Even at present, the garland-making industry has become common sight, near places of religious worship such as Hindu Kovils, Buddhist temples and churches.

The Sunday Observer last week had a rare opportunity to visit several places in the city of Colombo including Mayura Place at Havelock Park, St. Anthony’s Church, Ponnambalam Vaneshwara and Veeramakkali kovils at Kochchikade, Manikka Pillayar kovil, New Kadireshan kovil at Bambalapitiya and Modera Church to meet garland makers.

Almost all garland makers in Colombo, Modera, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatta and Havelock Town are Tamils. We also found a Sinhalese who has been engaged in the business for the past 23 years.

A resident in Colombo and a long standing garland maker 31 -year old, Rajin Sutha said he started the garland making business at Mayura Place about 15 years ago.

“We make about 100 garlands a day and we use various kinds of flowers including white Idda flowers, pitchcha flower pods, yellow and red Rath mal, Kapuru flowers and croton leaves.

He said the flowers are delivered by regular suppliers from Matale, Badulla, Gampola, Je-Ela, Ekala, Negombo, Madurankuliya, Bandarawela and Nuwara Eliya”.

A large number of Hindus visit the Mayura Place kovil for religious activities during festival periods such as Thaipongal and Deepavali festivals.

“In addition, Buddhists and Catholics also visit the Mayura Kovil on poya days as well as other days to perform various religious activities. Even Buddhists come to make vows and thereafter to fulfil them. Schoolchildren belonging to all religions visit the Mayura Kovil prior to their examinations”.

He said although their daily income depends on the arrival of devotees and subsequently the sale of garlands, generally each person earns about Rs. 1,200 to 1,500 a day.

He said this amount could be doubled during the festival season.

He also said there is a severe shortage of flowers in January every year due to the cold weather conditions and due to the rain experienced during the whole month, so that flowers are imported from India as a safety measure. A garland maker, 34-year old Muthiah Kusalan said they make various kinds of garlands, according to the requirement of customers and the prices of garlands range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 5,000.

He said there are number of festivals in the month of January and people also purchase garlands and flowers for various other functions including official ceremonies, weddings, alms-givings, funerals and birthday parties.

“Our regular flower suppliers face immense hardship to find flowers during January due to the shortage of flowers in the country,”.

Jothiswaran (28), said he started garland making at the age of eight. He said it is difficult to have a fixed income.

He said they generally earn about Rs. 900 a day by selling garlands and flowers to customers and for functions and this amount was hardly enough to provide the needs of other family members. A long standing garland maker, 36-year old Muniyadi Rajendran said he brings flowers from Hanwella and he makes about 200 garlands a day.

“All garlands are not sold and our daily income depends on the arrival of devotees to kovils, churches and temples.”

A garland maker, R.P. Kusuman of Modera said he is engaged in the garland-making industry near famous temples such as Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kalutara and Bellanwila temples and he gets a good income on poya days and during Buddhist festival seasons.

He said he makes garlands from all kinds of flowers including Pitchcha flowers, Idda mal, croton leaves, red and yellow das pethi flowers, Araliya flowers, Kapuru flowers and Raja pohottu.

“These flowers are brought to Colombo kovils, churches and Buddhist temples from distant areas such as pitchcha flowers from Matale and Badulla, Idda Mal from Madampe, Raja Pohottu from Matale,”.

A garland-maker, Kamil Rasiya of Kochchikade said earlier there was brisk business for fresh flower garlands on special church festival days, but due to the arrival of polythene flower garlands in the market, many people are in the habit of purchasing low priced polythene garlands.

He said he was not against the selling of polythene flower garlands by traders, but it was not environmental-friendly as after a major festival polythene paper could be seen scattered elsewhere near religious places. A prominent garland-maker near St. Anthony’s Church, Ambalawanar Anandan said garland making has been a family business.

“My grand father Arumugam started the garland making business during the colonial period of 1900 and my father Arumugam Ambalawanar took over the busineess and after his death I took over the family business,”.

He said he is 48 years old and he started the business at the age of ten.

He said in addition to the St. Anthony’s church, there are two kovils including the Ponnambalam Vaneshwaran and Veeramakkali Kovils in the area.

He said there are over 25 shops at Kochchikade area and all are doing a good business during festival seasons.

A garland maker Jesudasan requests authorities to allow them to carry out their business activities on the pavement at least during major festival seasons as Police do not allow them to do business on pavements.

Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe