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Culture region, India

Madurai

The temple city whose jasmine, Madurai malli, is strung into gajras worn on plaits and buns across Tamil Nadu.

Madurai, the ancient temple city around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, is famous for its jasmine. Madurai malli, grown in the surrounding districts and protected by a geographical indication tag, is prized for its strong scent and thick petals. Every day it is strung into garlands that women wear in their hair, and much of it is sent to cities in India and abroad.

The jasmine market

Madurai's flower market at Mattuthavani handles tonnes of jasmine each day. Farmers pick the buds before dawn, when they are still closed, and traders and stringers turn them into strands that open in the evening. Prices swing widely with the season and festivals. The jasmine is worn on the plait or around a bun, and it is offered at the Meenakshi temple, where the goddess's own hair is adorned for festivals.

Flowers in the hair

In Tamil Nadu, wearing flowers in the hair is part of everyday dress for many women and an essential part of auspicious occasions such as weddings, valaikaappu, the baby shower, and temple festivals. A married woman wearing jasmine is seen as a sign of good fortune. The custom is carried by Tamil communities to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and the Gulf, where Madurai jasmine is flown in for festivals.

Hairstyles of Madurai

GajraMadurai jasmine strung into hair garlandsBraidThe plait the jasmine is worn onBunThe kondai bun wrapped with jasmine

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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