Rains and Greens-3

Shot taken after a long and heavy rain from my home.  I think its so refreshing to see images after rain.        Its a red chethi.  Its not nadan or local type.  English name is 'Ixora'.  

Chethi

Chethikka

Different varieties of chethi from my home.

This song may be very familiar to every malayalee evoking nostalgic memories of the cortyards of our home rich with chethi, chembarathi, mandaram and thulasi.

'Chethi mandaram thulasi pichaka malakal charthi guruvayoorappa ninne kani kanikanenam

mayil peeli choodikkondum manja thukil charthikkondum manikkuzhaloothikkondum kanikanenam

agathiyamadiyante asru veenu kuthirnnoree avilpothi kaikkolluvan kani kanenam

vakacharathu kazhiyumbol vasanapoo aniyumbol gopikamar poojikkunnorudal kanenam'

Chethi flower has many medicinal qualities also. To make special oil for hair massaging this flower is also added with thulasi. This flower is used to make garlands in temples.

In neelamperoor padayani festival petals of this flower are used to decorate the big swans.

Kudachethi is the most common variety. Manja chethi and vella chethi can also be found in Kerala.

Related links:

Mandaram

Pichi

Thulasi