Everything About The National Flower Of India - Lotus

Which is the national flower of India?

It is the beautiful lotus flower that floats beautifully in water and is known for its beautiful colours and texture. An aquatic perennial flower that grows on the surface of water bodies is closely associated with ancient culture and two extant Asian religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. This exotic flower is known worldwide and stands out from the rest due to its cultural, religious and National significance. If you know little about this unique and beautiful species of flowers, here is all you need to know about the National Flower of India that will also help you understand its importance.

Significance Of Lotus Flower

In Hinduism, a lotus flower has a mythological significance for the Hindu deities. Vishnu and Lakshmi are usually depicted standing on a pink lotus flower, and the goddess Saraswati tends to be depicted on a white-coloured lotus. God Vishnu is also described as the "Lotus-Eyed One". Signifying divine beauty that grows from the mud into a beautiful flower, a lotus flower also represents the purity of body, speech and mind in Buddhism. As the India national flower floats above muddy waters, it also represents attachment and desire, hence a flower that is adored by one and all.

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Why Lotus is Our National Flower

The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), known as "Kamal" or "Padma" in Hindi, is recognised as the India national flower. There are several reasons why the Lotus was chosen as the symbol:

1. Cultural and Spiritual Significance: The Lotus holds a sacred place in the hearts of Indians due to its association with several gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology, particularly with Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Lord Vishnu. It represents purity, beauty, wealth, richness, majesty, grace, fertility, knowledge, and serenity.

2. Symbolic Meaning: Lotus grows in muddy waters yet remains unstained and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night, the flower closes and sinks underwater; at dawn, it rises and opens again. This cycle symbolically represents purity of heart and mind, resurrection, and the ability to rise above challenges, embodying spiritual promise, growth, and the blossoming of one's potential.

3. Historical Importance: The Lotus has been a part of ancient Indian art, architecture, and literature. The Lotus has always been a prominent feature, from sculptures in temples to paintings and scriptures.

4. Aesthetic Value: The intrinsic beauty of the Lotus, found all over India in various colours, makes it one of the most beautiful flowers and enhances its value as a symbol of the nation.

Best Climate And Water Conditions For Lotus Flower

A lotus flower tends to grow best in warmer climates; however, this does not mean they cannot flourish in shady areas. However, in desert areas, it is preferable to cover these flowers in shade to avoid the sun's scorching heat. A lotus flower must be kept at a temperature of at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit throughout summer for it to flourish in the best possible way. A lotus flower does best in about 18 inches or even deeper water. The flower is extremely adaptable to different water chemistries, but you must be wary of growing them in hard, alkaline water full of minerals. This is because they can accumulate the minerals in the water over time, thus harming the plant. If you are willing to grow lotus plants in a pot, it is advisable to flush out any hard water with fresh water to replace evaporation.

How To Grow A Lotus Flower

While it is unusual to grow a lotus flower at home, you can surely do so by following these easy steps:

• Purchase the seeds of this flower from any local retailer.
• Now, place these seeds in a glass or a bowl of warm water. Remove seeds that float because they show infertility.
• Notice the seeds for any roots emerging out of them and change the water daily.
• When you notice roots, fill a small pot with loose garden loam and make an indentation on the top. Place these sprouted seeds in the pot, covering them lightly with garden loam.
• Now, place the pot containing the transplant in a container with two inches of water. Ensure the water is warm and kept at a consistent two-inch depth.
• Keep the container in a sunny spot so that the plant receives at least 8 hours of sunlight. Keep the plant in the same spot until it develops roots and leaves.
• Once the plant develops stronger roots and leaves, transfer it to its final aquatic home.

Caring And Cultivation of Lotus Flower

• Do not fertilise the lotus plant for the first year after it is planted.
• You can fertilise an established lotus plant every 3 or 4 weeks to enhance its growth.
• The plant's roots must be kept from freezing.
• Remember to cut off the plant's yellow foliage in late fall and move the plant to the deepest part of the pond.

Uses Of Lotus Flower

• As lotus flowers can remove polluting compounds and heavy metals from wastewater, these flowers are efficiently used for wastewater treatment.
• These flowers are also ideal for protein bioengineering because they contain thermal-stable proteins characterised by seed longevity used for cell protection and repair under stress.
• Lotus rhizomes, leaves, seeds and flowers are used in folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional and oriental medicine.
• Lotus leaves are used for treating hematemesis, epistaxis, and hematuria, while flowers are used for treating diarrhoea, cholera, fever, and hyperdipsia.

Amazing Facts About Lotus Flower

Here are some unique and common facts about the lotus flower, which is also the national flower of India.

• Apart from being the national flower of India, Lotus is also the National Flower Of Vietnam. The pink coloured flower is the National symbol of both countries.
• Though a lotus flower is only approximately 49 inches in height, the flower can spread as long as 10 feet horizontally in water.
• Believe it or not, the seeds of a Lotus flower can germinate even after 1300 years of dormancy.
• This beautiful flower blooms only in the morning and closes at night.
• In Buddhism, a golden lotus is a symbol of complete enlightenment.
• Lotus flowers contain air pockets to retain buoyancy on the surface of a body of water.
• More than 740,000 acres of Chinese land are devoted to lotus cultivation, and lotuses are usually cultivated in a crop rotation system with rice and vegetables.
• Many parts of a lotus flower are edible, including the stems as well as the flower.

Being the National Flower Of India, here is almost everything you need to know about Lotus.

While gifting a live Lotus to your dear ones is quite a task, you can buy and send an Online Flower Bouquet bloomed with flowers like roses, orchids, gerberas, carnations, or tulips.