As the monsoon arrives, water lilies bloom in canals, rivers and wetlands. This familiar flower of rural Bengal is no longer just a symbol of beauty — it is now sold as a seasonal vegetable in various markets in Faridpur. Buyers are purchasing fresh water lilies bundled for sale, with each bundle selling for 10 taka.
Since dawn, stalls of water lilies have appeared alongside other vegetables in various markets across Faridpur’s Boalmari, Alfadanga, Saltha and Madhukhali upazilas. Local and nearby vendors collect the water lilies from wetlands and bring them to market.
For sellers, water lilies are an easy source of extra income during the monsoon. For many locals, they are also a familiar seasonal food, used to prepare various curries and cooked with fish.
Nurul Alam brings water lilies from Gopalganj to sell in various Faridpur markets. “During the monsoon, I collect water lilies from various wetlands, beels and jheels in Gopalganj and bring them to Faridpur’s markets. I sell each bundle for 10 taka. People buy the water lilies and cook them to eat. Selling them earns us some income too,” he said.
Sandipan Chakraborty, a buyer of water lilies, said, “Water lilies are a familiar food in our rural Bengal. They can be cooked as a curry or with fish. Seeing fresh water lilies in the market makes me want to buy them. The price is also relatively low.”
Kalipada Chakraborty, a retired headteacher of Moyna Government Primary School in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila, said, “Water lilies are a flower intertwined with rural Bengal’s heritage. Since childhood, I’ve seen how, when canals, wetlands and ponds fill with water during the monsoon, water lilies bloom in abundance there. At the time, water lilies were part of people’s diet not just as a flower but as a vegetable too. Seeing them sold in the market now brings back memories of that old rural culture.”
He added, “Water lilies that grow in wetlands during the monsoon can be easily collected. This allows many low-income people to collect and sell water lilies without any additional expense. This gives buyers access to an inexpensive seasonal vegetable, while also creating extra income opportunities for sellers.”