Matvi : An Eco-Cultural Tradition of Wildflower Decoration from Rajapur Tehsil, Ratnagiri Dist., Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Various worships are associated with plant parts such as leaves, flowers, and fruits. These parts are harvestedfrom wild and domesticated landscapes used in socio-religious ceremonies in India. The present study was carriedout in the Konkan region of Maharashtra to document a lesser-known practice of ‘matvi’ followed during theGanesh festival. Matvi includes the ceremonial decoration of a wooden canopy with seasonal plants. A review ofprimary and secondary sources of information revealed that the matvi tradition is strongly linked to the socioecologicallandscape of the Konkan-Malabar eco-region. A survey conducted in eight villages of Rajapur tehsildocumented plant species used in matvi. This article also discusses the practice's geographical, ecological,economic, and cultural aspects, including collection sources, local trade, and people's perceptions. However,changing nature of the tradition indicates a probable threat to this human-nature relationship.