Tamil Flower Shops

Flowers and garlands occupy a revered position in Tamil culture. The classification of flower garland making as one of Singapore's Intangible Cultural Heritages by the National Heritage Board (NHB) in 2020 has brought renewed attention to this age-old practice in the country.

Flowers are commonly used for offerings to deities in temples and homes on a daily basis. They also play a significant role in various occasions such as weddings and funerals, and are frequently adorned by women, particularly when wearing traditional attire. Fresh flowers, including loose flowers, flower strings, and garlands of various sizes, are in high demand, making flower shops a viable business in Singapore. Flower shops managed by Tamils, are scattered across the island. However, some of the oldest and most popular shops are found in Little India. 

A historical news clip dated 24 June 1936 in The Straits Times featured a news item mentioning 'Raja Flower Shop'. This suggests that Tamil flower shops had emerged as a business by the 1930s. Interestingly, R Gothandabani, the proprietor of Pushpa Flower Shop in Little India, shared in a 1988 interview that his uncle, the original owner, initiated the flower shop during the same era. While Gothandabani successfully expanded the business within a decade of taking charge, concerns lingered about whether his sons would continue the enterprise. 

In contrast, the narrative for Jothi Store & Flower Shop at No. 1 Campbell Lane unfolded with a different outcome. Emerging from a modest alcove in a wall and focused on selling betel leaves, areca nuts, and flowers in 1960, Jothi Store & Flower Shop has evolved into a five-story enterprise. It now serves as a prominent supplier of flowers for temples, grand weddings, and other significant events beyond its initial retail scope. The founder, Murugaia Ramachandran born in 1931 in Tamil Nadu, arrived in Singapore in 1948. After working at the printing office of the Singapore Standard from 1950 until its closure in 1959, he embarked on the establishment of Jothi Store in 1960. 

The addition of the Flower Shop in 1961 marked a pivotal moment in the business's trajectory propelling its growth in line with the expanding population and thriving economy. By the 1980s, the business sourced its stock predominantly from local Chinese farmers, while imports from Malaysia, Thailand, and India addressed surges in demand during festivals like Deepavali and Thaipusam. In 1986, his son, Rajakumar Chandra, a BSc Honours graduate in computer science, took over the business. Under his leadership, the enterprise underwent further expansion, transforming into a comprehensive department store. Despite diversifying its offerings beyond flowers, the business continues to be widely recognised as the ‘Jothi Flower Shop’ within the Tamil community. Murugaiah Ramachandran passed away in 2025 at the age of 93.

Similar to Jothi Flower Shop, Anushiya Flower Shop on Kerbau Road is managed by Jayakrishan and Jayakannan, the sons of its founder Jayaselvam. They launched an e-commerce platform in 2018 and introduced flower sales through social media. The e-commerce venture experienced significant growth, with customer numbers multiplying in 2020 as the pandemic-induced disruption of physical contact took effect.

While there are stand-alone flower shops in Little India, many flower shops across the island operate as an extension of department stores. These serve not only the Tamil community but also the broader Indian community, as well as non-Indians in need of flowers. With the influx of new immigrants from India since the 1990s and a resurgence in maintaining Indian traditions, these flower shops are considered viable businesses and hence their proliferation. The art of garland making, once considered a dying art form, appears to be alive and thriving.



For more information
Ramachandra, M. Oral History Interview by Rajandran Supramaniam, 19 March 1990. Transcript and MP3 audio, 01:29:29. National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001122).
“Jothi Store & Flower Shop,” RootsSG. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/little-india-heritage-trail-shop-till-you-drop/jothi-store-flower-shop
“Funeral of Mr. C. A. Odyar,” The Straits Times, 24 June 1936, 5. (From Newspaper SG)
“Flower Business Blooms in Little India,” The Straits Times, 16 December 1988, 10. (From Newspaper SG)
“The ‘Raja” of Serangoon Road,” The Straits Times, 16 August 1997, 6. (From Newspaper SG)
“Making of Flower Garlands,” RootsSG. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/ich-landing/ich/making-of-flower-garlands 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.