TOURISTS DRAWN TO FLOWER GARLAND FRAGRANCE

By K.Ganeson

PENANG (Malaysia), April 23 (Bernama) -- The fragrance from the garlands of
flowers at the row of six stalls on Jalan Kapitan Keling in this northern island
state have never failed to attract the attention of those who passes through
this Georgetown heritage spot.

But the 'bunga malai' or flower garlands have also pulled in the foreign
tourists who are vacationing in this 'pearl of the orient'.

The six flower garland stalls at Jalan Kapitan Keling begin their daily
business as early as 6.30am, where suppliers deliver baskets of fresh flowers
from Cameron Highlands, Bukit Bendera and Sungai Petani.

For stall owner Ameer Sultan Abdul Razak, 59, the fragrance of the fresh
flowers, including jasmines, roses and orchids, is invigorating enough to make
him start work at 7am.

When met by Bernama, Ameer said he takes some 20 minutes to one hour to make
a flower garland depending on its size and floral arrangement.

"The bunga malai is used by Hindu devotees for their prayers in the temples.
It is also to honour guests and dignitaries apart from as the mark of respect
during the cremation ceremony for Indians," he said.

The flower garland is an important element in the culture of Malaysian
Indians.

It is used, among else, for prayers, weddings, and welcoming ceremony for
distinguished visitors.

The flowers are joined to make a garland using fine strings derived from the
banana stem. The garlands are made according to the orders that in turn depend
on the nature of ceremony.

During the 40 years that Ameer operates his family business at Jalan Kapitan
Keling, he has 'woven' various varieties of flower garlands, a skill which he
learnt from his father.

He said each of the flower garlands is sold at between RM3 and RM50
depending on its size and so far the most expensive garland ordered was priced
at RM500.

According to Ameer, he could sell up to 10 flower garlands a day, operating
from 7am until 9pm. The rest of the flowers are kept in special refrigerators to
ensure their freshness.

"Maybe to Malaysians, the bunga malai is nothing extra ordinary but
foreigners have shown interest in how to make the flower garlands.

"My stall continues to receive a stream of foreign visitors who are
attracted not only to the flower fragrance and colours but also on the unique
flower garlands. Some even take the opportunity for their pictures to be snapped
with them wearing the garlands," he said.

The flower garland business is also 'money' for foreign workers who are
skilled in making the flower garland, particularly those from India.

For 43-year Indian national P.Segar, the stringing method in the flower
garland here is the same when compared to that in India.

"It takes me only 20 minutes to string a one metre-long bunga malai", said
Segar who is employed at one of the bunga malai stalls at Jalan Kapitan Keling.
-- BERNAMA