Flowers from wild

Flowers from the wild. Its like Frangi pani. Its taken by my friend during one of her picnics in High ranges. I found its so attractive. Pure and gentle. When I observe these wild flowers I can feel the breeze, sound of insects, rattling sounds made by walking, dry leaves, termite hills, aroma of spicy leaves, music of bamboo groves and above all the purity of forest. Yes, I need to spend two days in a forest. These flowers triggered my passion to green. I am eagerly waiting for that.

Flowers from Munnar

Neela vaka

Munnar is a town in Idukki district of Kerala. Its apt location in Kerala to spend your vacation time . Summer is the tourism season in Munnar. Shots by my husband during his one day trip to Munnar. Its climate and sceneries attract lots of people from various parts of the country.

Yellow flower from Kerala

Yellow flowers from Kerala. The local name of this plant is 'Kaypan kadu' means bitter forest. Leaves of this plant have bitter taste. Shots are taken from the road side near Kattappana.

Flowers

Blue flowers
'Hridaya sarassile pranaya pushpame iniyum nin katha parayoo....'

Yellow flowers
'Ha pushpame adhika thungapadathilethra shobhichirunnathoru ranji kanakkaye nee........' lyrics from 'Veenapoovu'(fallen flower) the famous poem of Mahakavi Kumaranashan. This poem had celebrated its centenary in 2007 but still it is fresh and popular.

'Flower power' of Kerala

These flowers are from Model Floriculture Nursery Unit run by Kerala Agricultural University at the Cardamom Research Centre, Pambadumpara. Shots taken by Mr.Sreejith.
Flowers have a large global market today. Flowers became an indispensable part of our occasions. Now we have not enough space or time to cultivate flowers for our own usage. In old days it was used in some special occasions and for Poojas. But now its a status symbol to adore home and offices with fresh flowers. Thus the floriculture opened a new vista to the youth of India. Government and banks are doing a good job to promote the various opportunities in this 'Flower world'. Market of cut flowers will rise on special days such as valentines day, mothers day and fathers day. In these days cut-flower rate will increase Rs.5/- to Rs15/-!!!!!India Government is doing a lot of programs to help floriiculturists. Apart from the global market flowers have a large local market also. Its also a sustainable employment route. Women from various parts of India are participating flower cultivation run by self help groups. Bush Jasmine, Kanakambaram and Roses are the main items. During Onam days Arali, Jamanthi and Kongini are also in the market.

Daliya Flower

Related entries: Cactus images

Yellow flowers

Pavizhamalli

Dashapushpam

High range views

Kanikkonna remembers Vishu and Unnikkannan. A legend exists about this yellow flower. Guruvyurappan throw his Aranjanam(waist band) these flowers are sprouted from that oranament. It is an essential flower for the Vishu festival. It is a medicinal plant also.

Kanakambaram-flowers without fragrance. It is a flower crop in south India. It is used with Jasmine to decorate hair or making garlands. These flowers are tied with Jasmine flowers(mulla) to wear in the hair. Another variety has a dark orange colour. A very common and beautiful flower from South India.

Chembarathi poove chollu devane nee kando ....

Kongini-mixing of colours by nature in a pretty way. These can be found in white, pink and violet.

Shavamnari. The flowers have a bad smell so the name Shavam nari(the smell of corpse). The flower is used in Ayurvedic medicines. Its stem leaves and roots are used to prepare medicine. Its an effective medicine for leukemia, breast cancer and skin cancer.

chethi mandaram thulasi pichaka malakal charthi guruvayoorappa ninne kani kanenam....

Chembarathi -White hibiscus.

A white flower without smell-views from Thookkupalam, Idukki

Bandi poo- Orange and yellow mixtures with an ugly smell. This flower has great demand during Onam days to make Onapookkalam(Flower arrangement in front of the house to welcome Mahabali).

Rose(pani neer rose)

Onapookkalam

Picture Coutrsey:Internet

onam always bring a pookkalam(array of flowers in front of the house) into my mind.In my childhood we (me,my sister Parvathi and friends from neighborhood) always make large atha pookalam in our home. My parents give suggestions and support to this program.Every day we will wakeup in early morning, we have to finish the pookkalam before sunrise.We will collect the flowers in previous day itself.The flowers includeThumbappoo, Thulasippoo, Mukkutti, Chembarathi, chethi, Mantharam, gandharajan, suryakanthippoo, nanthyarvattom, rajamalli, kolambi,mulla,rose,senia, kammal, shamkhupushpam, vadamalli, jamanthi,kongini and a lot of leaves.Onam comes in Chinga masam accorging to Malayalam calender(August-senptember).The first day of Chinga masam is our new year day (Aandu pirappu means the beginning of an year)Every day is associated with a star. In chinga masam on Atham nakshtram(atham star) we will start to prepare pookkalam in front of our home. This is to welcome Mahabali -the idealking of Kerala. First we will clean the yard (mittom) and spread the surface with Chanakam(cow dung). Chanakam is condidered to remove all the impurities and the flowers will stick to it. At first the basement is with chanakam then a ball is made with chanakam and placed in centre of the basement.This ball is considered as Ganapathy. In Kerala to start anything, firt wewill start with ganapathy pooja. Ganapathi the elephant headed god will remove the obstacles. After that we will thumbappoo and thulasippooon top of the ball and then spread the flowers in circles. For 10 daysthis routine will continue. For each day a new circle will be added to the pookkalam. We may also do designer pookkalam(different shapes).Last day isthiruvonam. On this day Ada(made with rice powder and coconut)is given to Thrikkakkara Appan.This ritual brings a positive energy in the early morning. The fragrance of flowers and the sharing of thoughts ....Every thing was very nice...Whenever I hear athapookkalam I still remember the pookkalam in front of my home with all its purity. It is really an art to spread the flowers in such a lovely way..According to my opinion these positive thoughts are the blessings of Maveli.
Today Pookkalam is made with the flowers coming from Tamil nadu. The Malayali suffocating in small plots have to find yet another space to make pookkalm.So my children may remember the Onam with Exhibitions, shopping carnivals and a time to spend most of the time in front of the Television.

Its a nostalgic festival too. Here a nostalgic note from Pensilvannia about onapookkalam and a pookkalam without thumba or chethi.