Mollywood: Malayalam actress fined for wearing jasmine garland

Agencies :

In South India, festivals mean the gentle beauty of women wearing flowers on their foreheads. But who knew that this custom could be a source of danger at an Australian airport! Popular Malayalam actress Navya Nair was fined 1,980 Australian dollars for wearing jasmine flowers. That’s more than Tk150,000 in Bangladeshi currency.

Navya Nair was travelling to Australia to attend an Onam event organised by the Indian diaspora. When she arrived at Melbourne Airport, customs officers caught sight of a 15-centimeter-long jasmine garland in her bag.
Australia has strict biosecurity laws.

The main purpose of this law is to protect Australia from various diseases, pests and pollution that can be harmful to people, animals, plants and the environment.

“Therefore, if you want to bring any plants or flowers into the country, you have to inform them in advance.” They are allowed to be taken only after being inspected by bio-security officers.

Actress Navya Nair was unaware of this law. She said, “My father bought me a garland of flowers from Kochi – one to wear in my hair and the other to keep in my bag. I kept that in my bag. I broke the law, but not intentionally. But that’s also true, not knowing can’t be an excuse.”