by temple sattharars (brahmacaris employed for garland-making) are used to adorn the deity Ranganatha. Garland and flowers from outside the temple grounds are forbidden. Sattarars have several disciplinary rules for many aspects of their profession, some of which include: Flowers should be picked in the early morning. Flowers should not be smelled by anyone. Flowers should be picked only after one has bathed. The flowers which fallen from the plant and touched the ground should not be used. Namajapam, or the repetition of holy names, should be done while picking flowers. While making garlands, the sattarars keep flowers and other materials on a table in order to keep them away from the feet, which are traditionally viewed as unclean and unfit for use in a religious context. Material is always kept above hip level. South Indian garlands are of different types. Some of them are as follows: Thodutha maalai - Garlands made from the fiber of the banana tree (vaazhainaar). Common in marriage ceremonies and devotional offerings. In all Hindu marriages the bride and bridegroom exchange garlands three times. These garlands range in length from and vary from to in diameter. Kortha maalai - Made using needle and thread. Jasmine, mullai, and lotus garlands are made using this method. Malas for the gods have two free lower ends with kunjam (bunch of flowers), i.e. only the upper two ends are joined and the lower ends should not be not joined. They have two kunjams, whereas garlands for human use have both lower ends joined (only one kunjam). Each Hindu deity has a unique garland: Lalitha wears hibiscus Vishnu wears tulasi leaves Shiva wears bilva leaves Subrahmanya wears jasmine Lakshmi wears red lotus Sarasvati wears white lotus Durga wears nerium oleander Vinayaka wears dūrvā grass The tradition of garlanding statues as a sign of respect extends to respected non-divine beings, including ancient King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II and the innovative colonial administrator Mark Cubbon. Nepal A reference to a garland is found in the Nepalese national anthem, Sayaun Thunga Phulka. The first line reads, "Woven from hundreds of flowers, we are one garland that's Nepali." Christendom In Christian countries, garlands are often used as Christmas decorations, such as being wrapped around a Christmas tree. See also Angulimala Chaplet (headgear) Festoon Japamala Lei Phuang malai Seven Sisters (colleges) References External links Objects used in Hindu worship Seasonal traditions Christmas decorations