The national flower of water lily....

1. The Story of Bangladesh: The White Shapla

In Bangladesh, the White Water Lily (locally known as Shapla) was chosen as the national flower shortly after the country gained independence in 1971.

• The Symbol of Resilience: Bangladesh is a land of thousands of rivers. The Shapla grows in almost every pond, canal, and marsh. It was chosen because it represents the "common person"—it is beautiful yet humble, growing in the mud but blooming pure and white above the water.

• The National Emblem: If you look at the National Emblem of Bangladesh, you will see the water lily at the center, floating on water. It is flanked by two sheaves of rice and topped with four stars and jute leaves. This "story" tells of a nation that is fertile, connected to its roots, and rising with grace after the turmoil of war.

• A Daily Life Companion: Unlike many national flowers that are purely ornamental, the water lily is part of the rural diet. The stems are cooked as a delicious vegetable (Shaplar data), and the seeds are sometimes popped like.....Read More 

2. The Story of Sri Lanka: The Blue Nil Manel

Sri Lanka’s national flower is the Blue Water Lily (Nil Manel), declared in 1986. Its story is deeply spiritual.

• The Footprint of Buddha: According to Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka, the blue water lily was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha’s (the Buddha) footprint. It is said that wherever the Buddha stepped, flowers bloomed in his wake.

• The Sigiriya Frescoes: The flower’s history is etched into the very walls of the country. In the ancient 5th-century rock fortress of Sigiriya, world-famous frescoes depict "celestial nymphs" holding these blue lilies in their hands, showing the flower has been a symbol of beauty and royalty for over 1,500 years.....Read More

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3. The Mythological "Origin" Stories

Beyond national borders, the water lily has magical "origin stories" that have been told for centuries:

The Legend of the Fallen Star (Native American)

One popular legend says that the water lily was once a shining star in the sky. The star looked down at the Earth and fell in love with the reflection of the mountains and lakes. It wanted to live among the people, so it descended to the water. When it touched the surface, it transformed into a white flower with a golden heart (the stamens), so it could remain a "star of the water" forever.

The Legend of Naiá (Amazonian)

In South American folklore (regarding the Giant Water Lily), a beautiful girl named Naiá fell in love with the Moon. She tried to catch the Moon’s reflection in a lake, but she fell in and drowned. The Moon, moved by her devotion, turned her into the "Queen of the Water Lilies"—a flower that only opens its petals at night to greet the Moon...Read More.