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January 28, 2003  

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MUSLIM CULTIVATORS WHO SUPPLY LOTUS FLOWERS TO HINDU TEMPLES

6 Muslim families at Edakulam, near Thirunavaya in Malappuram.

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Chances are that the flowers used for poojas in the major temples of Kerala have been supplied by the 6 Muslim families at Edakulam, near Thirunavaya in Malappuram.  For these families still maintain the quarter century long tradition of cultivating and delivering lotus flowers exclusively meant for poojas in large number of temples including Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu in Thrissur, Thali Siva temple at Kozhikode, Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple etc.  

While the cost of flower in the open market is between Rs 3 and 4, they sell them to the Guruvayoor temple at the rate of 50 paise per flower.  Edakulam is the only place in the State where lotus plants are grown on a commercial scale and the temples have been using these flowers famed for their quality.

Abdurahiman, a devout Muslim , has painstakingly delivered thousands of lotus flowers to the Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple in the last one month, despite the rigors in the fasting month of Ramadan.

“We know the importance of pujas in Hindu religious customs and take care to deliver the flowers without fail round the year,” says Abdurahiman.  “Sometimes we even purchase flowers from the Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu at higher rates and deliver to the temples, when the flowers become scarce in our fields during the monsoon season”.

Apart from supplying flowers to temples, the lotus farmers also supply flowers free of cost to devotees for offerings in the festival seasons at the temples.

Abdurahiman plucking lotus from the lake

Courtesy:  K.R.Rajeev (text), N.P.Jayan (photo), The New Indian Express, December 6, 2002

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