PRENEETA SHARMA
If you were raised in an Indian household, you may recall this time of year not via calendars, but by your grandmother’s hands, who is seen planting small marigold saplings. Her garden would be blanketed with golden-orange blossoms by winter. Marigolds are more than just flowers to many families; they are a recurring theme in Indian homes, symbols of festivals, and memories woven into customs. Every backyard, balcony pot, and courtyard seemed to be waiting for its fair share of saffron and yellow in October, which was long known as “the month of marigolds.”
“Bright, vibrant, and fragrant, marigolds were indispensable for garlands, temple offerings, and door hangings,” Madu Sharma, a Himachal woman, said. Their hues were ideal for the season of light and celebration since they represented vitality, optimism, and protection.”
There was more than just ceremonial knowledge, she added
New seedlings are welcomed by October soil that has cooled following the monsoon. During this time of transition, marigolds flourish, absorbing the gentle sunlight and providing gardeners with blooms that endure throughout the winter, shared with crazynewsindia.
Grandmothers were aware of marigolds’ subdued abilities. They shield neighboring flowers and plants from pests like aphids and nematodes. For the same reason, farmers continue to plant marigold rows along fields.
Long before the term “organic” became popular, a corner of marigolds in small home gardens served as a natural barrier, protecting the soil from tiny intruders and maintaining soil health.
Marigolds also bring back memories of afternoons spent stringing flowers into garlands as their zesty scent clings to your fingers. Grandmothers gently taught kids how to tie each blossom together, teaching them patience, craft, and perseverance in addition to gardening skills.
Their gardens served as functional living areas where flowers were used for medicine, worship, or to decorate homes.
Many of us now reside in apartments with balconies instead of courtyards. Nevertheless, there is still solace in seeing a pot full of orange marigolds.
More than just gardening, planting them in October is a way to preserve tradition. It is recalling how, instead of using applications, grandmothers used to observe the sky, the soil, and festivals to understand the seasons.
Planting marigolds now is a way to inherit their wisdom: to welcome a flower that has been a part of Indian homes for ages, to allow gardens to breathe color, and to organically safeguard other plants. You might be reminded of why your grandma usually planted marigold seeds in the ground when October arrives.
