Flower Men

In India, flowers are more than decoration — they’re woven into the rituals of daily life, from temple offerings to weddings and festivals. Nowhere is this cultural connection more vivid than at Malik Ghat Flower Market in Kolkata.

Tucked along the banks of the Hooghly River beneath the iconic Howrah Bridge, it’s the largest flower market in India. Each day, over 2,000 vendors arrive before dawn, bringing in marigolds, roses, jasmine, and lotus by the sackful. The air fills with fragrance and noise as buyers and sellers trade in blooms destined for ceremonies, shrines, and celebrations.

Frantic, colorful, and deeply rooted in tradition, Malik Ghat is more than a marketplace — it’s the beating heart of a centuries-old floral economy.