Hooghly Champa Tuberose Floriculture West Bengal

Hooghly district in West Bengal is the largest centre of cut flower production in eastern India, particularly for rajanigandha (tuberose), champa (champak), and marigold grown in the fertile alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain along the Hooghly river. The Hooghly flower-farming belt — from Tribeni and Magra to Rishra — supplies fresh flowers to the Kolkata wholesale flower market (Mullick Ghat) and to temple offerings across eastern India. Tuberose cultivation in Hooghly is a year-round activity; the heavy-fragrance variety grown here supplies the perfumery and attar industry of Kannauj (UP) as well as temple garland makers. Champa (Michelia champaca) trees are grown in the laterite slopes of Hooghly and harvested for the small pale-golden flowers used in divine offering (bhog) at Durga Puja and other festivals. The Hooghly district also produces large quantities of marigold (genda) for Diwali and wedding decoration markets. Flower-farming is predominantly done by women of the Mali (gardener) and Tili communities who manage the cultivation, harvesting, and binding of stems for dispatch. The Kolkata Mullick Ghat flower market — the largest flower market in Asia — serves as the aggregation point for Hooghly production. Bengal floriculture receives support from the West Bengal Horticulture Development Corporation.