The marigold is very significant in Nepalese culture where marigold garlands are used almost in every household especially during the Tihar festival.
The marigold was regarded as the flower of the dead in pre-Hispanic Mexico, parallel to the lily in Europe, and is still widely used in the Day of the Dead celebrations. The marigold is also widely cultivated in India and Thailand, particularly the species T. erecta, T. patula, and T. tenuifolia. Vast quantities of marigolds are used in garlands and decoration for weddings, festivals, and religious events. Marigold cultivation is extensively seen in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, UP etc. It can grow well in almost any sort of well drained soil but is best grown in partly sandy soil with good drainage. Although only hybrid varieties are used for cultivation, a good number of pure plantations are available. It is highly temperature resistant. Most varieties are seasonal and dry out after some good flowering phases.
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