Vijay's Victory: Is the Vaagai Flower a Symbol of Ancient Power or Modern Political Theater?

Meenakashi Devaraj
As TVK cadres across Tamil Nadu celebrate their leader Vijay’s ‘Vetri Vaagai’ (victory) in the assembly election, the loud music, dancing and uproarious cheering may look like a modern celebration, but it has always been a part of the land’s political tradition.

From the Sangam times more than 2,000 years ago, Tamils have marked victory with sound and movement, beating the thudi and other drums, while women gathered to perform kuravai dances in celebration of a leader’s triumph.



Today, when someone is wished success, the phrase ‘Vaagai soodi vaa’ is used, which translates to ‘wear the Vaagai flower and return’. Vaagai is chosen because it is not just any flower. In early Tamil culture, different flowers were used to denote various aspects of war. For example, When a fort came under attack, the raiders wore the tiny uzhinai of balloon vine flowers. The wispy vaagai (Albizia lebbeck from the Fabaceae family), commonly found in dry regions, came to symbolise triumph.

The association is recorded in the Tamil epic Silappathikaram. When Chera king Senguttuvan set out on an expedition to the Himalayas to get stone for Kannagi’s statue, he faced many hurdles but overcame them all. On his return to his capital Vanchi, he adorned himself with vaagai flowers to announce his victory. Even his royal elephant wore the flower, turning the homecoming into a public spectacle of triumph.

As Senguttuvan journeyed back, people across landscapes gathered to welcome him. In the hills, the Kurathi community of gypsies sang kurinji songs. In the farmlands, cultivators celebrated with music and gave their bulls a day of rest. Pastoral communities decorated themselves with flowers and played the flute as they awaited the king. Along the seashore, young girls greeted him with songs of the neithal landscape. When he finally reached his palace, the valamburi conch was blown to mark his victorious return.

Early Tamils also practised the custom of gifting symbolic flowers, usually in gold, to honour warriors. This ritual, known as ‘pookkul’, was performed on auspicious days and by beating thanummai drums in the background. After his return, Senguttuvan is said to have gifted golden vaagai flowers to his soldiers. His troop was so large that the entire process of gifting took a whole day, says the Silappathikaram.

The vaagai is also linked to Kotravai, the ancient Tamil goddess of war and victory. In 2024, the flower occupied pride of place on the TVK flag. Perhaps, the flower of victory worked its magic.

(The writer is a cultural historian)
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