Mysore Mallige Jasmine Flower Cultivation Heritage of Mandya

Mandya district, along with Mysuru, cultivates the Mysore Mallige (Jasminum sambac grandiflorum) — a variety of jasmine famous for its exceptional fragrance and used in temple offerings, wedding garlands, and perfume production. The jasmine flowers are harvested in the early morning before they open, when fragrance compounds are most concentrated. Mandya's jasmine farmers — predominantly women smallholders — sell fresh flowers at daily predawn markets (mallige mandi) in towns across the district. The flowers are transported to Bengaluru and Chennai within hours of harvest. Mysore Mallige has a GI tag, and its essential oil is a premium ingredient in international perfumery. The cultivation is intimately linked to the Dasara festival season, when demand for jasmine garlands peaks.