National Flower · India
Lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Officially designated
Reported
The lotus is a sacred flower that occupies a special place in Indian art and mythology.
The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is India's national flower. Rising clean and beautiful from muddy water, it has symbolised purity, enlightenment and beauty in Indian culture for thousands of years. Goddess Lakshmi is shown seated on a lotus, and the flower appears in Buddhist and Jain art as well.
The plant grows in ponds and lakes across India. Almost every part of it is used: the seeds (makhana-like lotus seeds) and rhizomes (kamal kakdi) are eaten, and its leaves serve as natural plates in some regions.
Sources & references
- National Portal of India – National Identity Elements – Government of India , retrieved 10 Oct 2026 Reported