The national flower of Vietnam and India Nelumbo nucifera or the sacred lotus is the species of lotus sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. In Asian art a lotus throne is a stylized lotus flower used as the seat or base for a divine figure. It is the normal pedestal for divine figures in Buddhist art and Hindu art, and often seen in Jain art.
We all know that lotuses grow in muddy water and feel it is Nature's way of showing us how impure water can yield a beautiful flower. It is noteworthy here that the lotus, Nelumbo nucifera shows high potential for usage in wastewater treatment removing polluting compounds and heavy metals. Various studies show its successful use to counteract water eutrophication or algal growth. The leaves of the floating lotus reduce sunlight reaching the lower part of the water. This suppresses algae growth thus, the oxygen content is up to 20% higher in lotus growing water systems than in other aquatic plant systems.
Due to intense agricultural practices, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are major problems in aquatic systems. Nelumbo nucifera is able to assimilate a higher content of phosphorus than other aquatic plants such as water hyacinth. It also assimilates nitrogen causing denitrification of water.
Thus growing the lotus is a natural way of purification of water systems in Nature.
Besides this all parts of the lotus are edible, the petals of flowers are used for making tea, the seeds are used in making moon cakes, seed paste used in cooking, sun-dried or roasted lotus seed are used as a snack, the large leaves are used as food wrappings or disposable plates, the stem cuttings are used as salad in Vietnamese cuisine and the starch rich rhizome is consumed as a vegetable.
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