Story by Sakina Ghatalah, Summer 2020
The smell of a jasmine flower is extremely distinct, so much so that it can be identified as a bud. The airy and pleasant smelling Jasmine flower is found to originate from Iran and spread to other lands as early as 1000 B.C. It’s story mirrors that of different groups of Persians who migrated to other lands within Asia, like my grandfather's family. Not only did Persians help with its movement, the smell itself enchanted many western countries into adopting the plant. My grandfather's family came from Iran to Hyderabad, an independent state at the time. There was always some level of conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India, but I like to think that the usage of this little flower binds the two groups, both of them using it for celebrations and happy occasions.
Traditionally, garlands for celebrations of all kinds are made with jasmine and roses. While the thought of hundreds of buds on a single garland can seem overwhelming to the senses, it's actually very light in fragrance and complements the roses perfectly. The garlands with the jasmine and roses are also used in marriages by most people in Southeast Asia. Newlyweds are adorned with heavy jasmine and rose garlands, a symbol for pure love.
The smell of jasmine is associated with many happy memories for me. Many Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries use the jasmine flower to make itaar, which is a perfume you apply directly onto your skin and rub. My sisters and I would sit at the door on Eid after Ramadan and offer to put the perfume on family members or friends that poured in to celebrate eid, for a price of course.
For most of my childhood, I remember my grandparents and my mom taking us up this mountain called Maula ka Pahaar. Huge rock formations made up the whole mountain, but it was small enough to climb in half an hour. The path to the top was littered with different mosques and homes. The rocks people walked upon had been outlined with a white paint to indicate a path and some steps, yet there were no actual steps; there were just huge, steep rocks that people climbed to honor the first Imam, or leader, of Shia Islam. People from all backgrounds make the journey to the top, there is no barricade for Hindus or Muslims or Sikhs or Chiristians or any other person. One thing people making the journey to the top usually had in common was they took up this little wet bag with jasmine and rose garlands and placed it at the entrance. The smell encompassing the mountain was blessed by the blooming of jasmines and nighttime meant an amplified scent would travel with the pleasant winds of Hyderabad.
Safe to say, The flower called “Queen of the night” (it is said to release more fragrance at night) is everywhere and has a plethora of functions all over the world. Whether it be the itaar applied for everyday, in the incense being burned, part of the tea being brewed, or jasmine infused oil being caressed into a young daughters hair by her mother, jasmine flower holds significance to each beholder.