FROM EDITOR’S DESK

Hello Friends…

Greetings of the season.

And we could see nights being celebrated across the globe, as we turned the new page of the year 2022. Of course the celebrations have been marred by the pandemic that now we have been seeing for third year in a row.

And again, the new year brings new hope, and we realise that a lot more could have been done, lot more could have been achieved.

But the question is “how much have we achieved for past one year?”.

The time we have lost is like a bank balance that cannot be operated next moment. It is like this. The time deposits a currency of 86,400 seconds in our account. The only thing is that a second not utilised goes waste. Whereas , a second well utilised goes to give you rich dividends in future. Only thing is that we do not honor this free currency.

And we repent, once this money is lost.

Well, that is how the life is. Utilise each second of yours well that has been credited to your life each dawn. Set your goals, set out on a mission, take baby steps, and at the end of the day, analyse and realise how you have made good of the wealth: the wealth of time which is distributed equally to all by our mother nature.

And the goal can be as small as planting a small sapling of a Banyan tree, which is going to give you rich returns at the end of few years, that your generations will enjoy, and would be grateful to you for the times to come.

Jai Hind.

Care of Most Popular Christmas Flowers after Christmas

Popular Christmas plants such as Poinsettia and Christmas cactus, add festive cheer to any home. Let’s talk about how to care for these festive flowers to keep them blooming over the Christmas season and well into the New Year!

POINSETTIA

No plant symbolizes Christmas quite like the poinsettia, especially the ruby-red variety though we have many new hybrids now.

How to Care for Poinsettias

• Protect your new plant from cold temperatures and chilling winds. Remember that this is a tropical plant.
• At home, place it near a sunny window where it will get bright, indirect light for at least 6 hours a day. Keep it out of direct sun, though, which could fade the leaves. Avoid draughts, keeping temperatures between 10 to 15 C. Overwatering is a common cause of death, so water only when the soil is dry and don’t let the plant sit in water. No fertilizer is needed while the plant is in bloom.
• As poinsettias are tropical plants grown in greenhouses, they may not be easy to re-bloom. 

Precautions to make it re-bloom

• Through March, just water your poinsettia as usual.
• In early April, decrease watering. The soil needs to get very dry between watering, however, don’t let the stem shrivel up!
• In late April (two weeks later), move your poinsettia to an area with no sunlight for about 12 to 15 hours every night and keep the plant at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In May, cut back the stems to about four inches. Then, repot the plant in fresh potting soil (not regular soil). Move back into a well-lit window again and start watering. At this time, start fertilizing at two-week intervals.
• When night-time temperatures no longer fall below 10°C, move the pot outside into a partially shaded location. Keep watering and fertilising.
• Starting in July, pinch back each stem about an inch to keep the plant bushy and compact. Continue pinching new stems, leaving three to four leaves on each branch.
• In mid-August, it’s time to move the plant back inside, to a well-lit window. Keep watering and fertilising.
• Starting in early October, to initiate flowering, the poinsettia needs long nights in complete darkness. Cover the plant with a cardboard box or keep it in a closet from about 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. and water sparingly. During the day, bring it back out to the window.
• In early December, when buds form, stop the dark treatment.
• In mid-December, stop fertilising. Your plant should be blooming again! If not, don’t give up hope. You still have a nice houseplant. It may bloom next year.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS

The Christmas cactus is a very popular houseplant. When they bloom, they produce colourful, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors. Their beautiful flowers, long bloom time, and easy care requirements make them a wonderful plant.

Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its relatives don’t live in hot, arid environments such as deserts or plains. In fact, these epiphytic succulents are native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.

They can’t take the same sort of sunny, dry conditions that other cacti can. It’s important to water these cacti more regularly than most succulents, but to also be cautious of keeping them too wet. 

Potting Christmas Cacti

• Make sure to choose a pot that has a drainage hole in the bottom. This helps to keep the soil from getting too wet.
• Christmas cacti grow well in most potting mixes that are formulated for succulents. The important thing is that your potting soil drains well.

Where to Put a Christmas Cactus

Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a bright bathroom is ideal. Too much direct sunlight can bleach the sensitive leaves.

A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred.

Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them.

In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or in an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C). Keep them out of direct outdoor sunlight.

How to Care for Christmas Cacti

• Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry. (Use your finger to check!)
• When the soil is sufficiently dry, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water. After 10-15 minutes, discard any excess water in the tray so that the pot doesn’t sit in water.
• It’s especially important to water well while the plant is flowering.
• From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. During the fall and winter, feed the cactus monthly to encourage successful blooming.
• Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound.
• If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil. They root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents.

How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom

The blooms of Christmas cacti and its relatives are triggered by the cooler temperatures and longer nights of fall. The three main types of holiday cacti generally bloom according to this schedule:

Thanksgiving cacti are the earliest and longest bloomers, typically producing flowers from late fall through mid-winter.

Christmas cacti tend to bloom from early winter to mid-winter.

Easter cacti bloom from late winter to mid-spring.

If your cactus is not blooming, it may be receiving either too much light or too high temperatures.

Some tips to encourage your Christmas Cactus to produce flowers

• To trigger blooming, nights need to be at least 14 hours long and days between 8 to 10 hours for at least six weeks. If you have strong indoor lighting that’s on at night, you may need to cover your cactus or move it to an area that’s exposed to the natural light cycle.
• Flower buds form best when the plant is kept in temperatures between 50 and 60°F (10 and 15°C).
• You can kick start the budding process by exposing the plant to temperatures of about 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row.
• Make sure that you are consistent with watering while the plant is in flower. If the plant dries out too much, it may drop its buds.
• If the cactus sheds its buds one winter, don’t worry, it should bloom the following year

Pests/Diseases

Blossom drop: If your Christmas cactus is exposed to any type of stress, the plant will likely drop its blossoms. This could be related to the amount of light, or a sudden change in temperature, as discussed in above plant care section. Also, ensure that your soil doesn’t get too dry while buds are forming.

The plant may be susceptible to mealy bugs and, if over-watered, root rot. If you have problems, cut out infected areas and repot in clean soil.

Recommended Varieties

There are three main types of “holiday cacti” available:

1. Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) bloom from late fall to mid-winter and are often mislabeled as Christmas cacti.
2. Christmas cacti (S. x buckleyi) bloom from early winter to mid-winter.
3. Easter cacti (S. gaertneri) bloom from later winter to mid-spring.

Tip

To make flourishing Christmas cactus graft it on other cactus.

Happy Gardening!!

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

GARDENING IN JANUARY

A very Happy New Year 2022. May this year brings lots of happiness and is a stress free year. COVID Pandemic of 2020 changed the outlook of people towards many things including health. For increasing immunity and simultaneously realizing the importance of organic food, they had started growing vegetables at their homes. Let’s pledge to follow it more every year and encourage our neighbours and friends to do so too.

Gardening Jobs to be done in January

• Carry on regular feeding of flowering annuals in pots as well as on ground plants with nutrients like Bioenzyme/ humic/ biovita.
• Stop pinching by 15th January to get blooms.
• If frost still persists protect your plants by covering at night or by moving them at a sheltered position. You can cover with sikri screens or plastic sheets.
• Keep on feeding sweet peas. You can remove tendrils and tips for bushy growth.
• Chrysanthemums will begin to fade out. Sort them out by colours and varieties. Select them for next year. Treat them with liquid manure to secure strong shoots.
• Foliage Plants in pots will be in dormant state. Restrict watering. Protect delicate varieties from getting affected by cold winds and frost.
• Vegetables: The vegetable garden will need constant attention in the way of cultivation, irrigation & treatment with liquid manure.(mix of sarson khali +neem khali ).
• The last sowings of seeds of lettuce, carrots, beet, turnips and radish may be made in the first fortnight.
• You can start summer seed sowing in a protective environment for lauki, karela and melons.
• Get some area for summer flowering annuals ready and place orders for seeds of summer flowering annual and vegetables.
• Bulbs of Amaryllis can be taken out and put on prepared soil /pots with nutrients.
• Fruit Trees (Chikoos,lemon,plum,peach,karonda,guava,amla,orange,mosambi,Raspberry) need digging and filled with manure as per size of trees .Dig around 2mts of soil around away from trunk. Show roots some air for 2 days .Then fill ground with pure and well rotted cow dung manure +bone meal + nitrogen +phosphorus +potash +micronutrients.
• Banana removes all suckers around the main trunk.
• Protect citrus fruit branches from die back.
• In case of big trees, you can trim shoots and remove all branches till one ft from ground and cut all dry branches. Also remove crossing branches between the trunks.
• Grape vines will need trimming. Keep a single trunk down at the base with no side shoot on it. Prune the shoots leaving 6-9 eyes in the lateral shoots. Defoliate the leaves before pruning.
• For pots & small gardens “beauty seedless” is recommended as it matures early.
• Pruning is done in the later half of January or early February.
• When flowering starts give them a nice drenching spray of Bioenzyme /biovita /magic grow or any seaweed solution having micronutrients to save your plant from flower /fruit fall.
• For fixing flower falling problem, spray Plantofix as recommended on bottle ie.2ml/1lt.
• Put pheromones strips all around to protect your fruits and vegetables from pest invasion.
• Protect your strawberries with chicken wire mesh or bird nets.

Hope these care tips help all the readers and they enjoy gardening.

HAPPY GARDENING!!

                                                                                                                                                      Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

Tales of trees in Indian Culture

Plant Number: 5

Plant Name: KADAM

Tree Name: Kadamb /Adina cordifolia/Mitragyna parvifolia/Neolamarckia cadamba

Indian names:     

Bengali: Kadambari, kadam

Hindi: Kadam, kadamb

Kannada: Kaduavalatige

Malayalam: Attutek

Marathi: Heidi

Oriya: Karam

Sanskrit: Kadamba, Neepa

Tamil: Kadamba,Manja

Telugu: Kadambamu,pasupu kadamba

Family: Rubiaceae

Scientific name: Neolamarckia cadamba

The genus name is in honour of French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.

The Kadamba tree is native to India and is associated with our ancient and cultural traditions. The Kadamba tree is associated in Sanskrit literature with monsoons. It is said to bloom only when thundering of clouds are heard. The breeze that accompanies the rain is called Kadambanila.

Description

• Kadamb is a deciduous tree, which grows up to 10m to 15m tall with pale yellow flowers. The trees grow in almost all tropical parts of India, especially along the streams.
• It is a large tropical, evergreen tree reaching a height of 80ft or more. The tree possesses a straight cylindrical bole and a broad umbrella shaped crown with branches characteristically arranged in tiers. Bark is dark grey, rough and often longitudinally fissured. Leaves: 5-12 in, ovate to elliptical, glossy green, opposite, simple with a short petiole; Inflorescence: terminal globose heads in clusters, 2-3 in dia; Flowers sub-sessile, fragrant, orange or yellow, bisexual, pentamerous; sepals funnel-shaped tube; petals united, saucer-shaped with a narrow tube; Stamens inserted on the corolla tube, filaments short; Ovary inferior, bi-locular, sometimes 4-locular in the upper part; fruit, a fleshy infructescence with numerous fleshy capsules and splits apart when mature releasing innumerable minute seeds.

Propagation

The mature fruits are collected and allowed to rot for 3 – 4 days. The pulp is washed off by hands in a bucket of water. Seeds settled at the bottom are collected, dried well and sown in galvanised or wooden trays filled with fine river sand and soil treated with fungicide (better use sterilised sand). They are sown @ 0.2 gm of seeds / m2 of bed (around 5000 nos) during February. Water carefully. They germinate in 3 weeks time (60 to 90% germination) and baby plants are transplanted to poly bags when they are 2-3 inches. Seedlings should be transplanted with their balls of earth intact to ensure successful establishment. After 5-6 months, saplings of 1 ft height are transferred to designated pits. It grows fast and flowering usually begins when the tree is 4-5 years old.

Mythological & Religious Importance

• The tree is also called immortal because of Garud, the eagle had perched on it when he flew from swatah lok after taking Amrit. As he sat on a branch of the kadamba, he wiped his beak against its branch and drop of Amrit fell on tree and made it immortal.

• Another story is about the founding of Madurai, Kadambavanam was due to the dominance of these trees .Even today, these trees are found to grow commonly in and around Madurai. According to the Hindu mythology, the present day Chennai was also covered completely by these trees.

• As per the mythology, demon Vrinda was killed by Lord Indra. Vrinda was a brahmin, hence, Lord Indra was cursed, but was given a choice to be freed from the curse. Indra was told to find the most sacred spot on Earth in order to shake off his curse. It is said that he wandered all over the world, but his curse was lifted only when he passed a place full of Kadamba trees. Lord Shiva, in the form of a Linga, was reclining under a huge canopy there. Later, a temple was built around this forest temple, which is in present day Chennai.

• Kadam features in Indian mythology and is mentioned in Bhagavata Purana. In North India, it is associated with Lord Krishna while in the South Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Sri Krishna performed many of his divine acts (leelas) in Vrindavan under the canopy of Kadamba trees. He used to play with his friends around these trees in Vrindavan, holding the unique globular flowers of the tree. Hence the tree is also known as Haripriya, God’s favourite. He is depicted as playing his flute under its canopy. Radha and Krishna were supposed to have conducted their love play (romance) in Kadambavanam. The episode represents one of the naughtiest acts of Lord Krishna, the stolen clothes of Gopis by Krishna were hidden on branches of a tree related to this tree.
• According to another belief, Goddess Durga Devi, an avatar of Devi Parvathi and the radiant beauty, loved to live amidst Kadamba trees. Hence, the name Kadamba-vana-vasini or Kadamba-vana-nilaye, whose presence is sensed if the koel (Cuckoo) sings in the Kadamb van.

• In Southern Tamil Nadu, Kadamba tree is considered the ‘sthala vruksham’ (Tree of the place) in Madurai and a withered relic of the tree is preserved at Meenakshi Temple. The tree is also associated with a local deity called Kadambari Amman and the place was once a Kadambavanam (Kadamba forest).

• During the Sangam period, Lord Murugan of Tirupparankundram Hill Temple (a centre of nature worship) near Madurai is believed to be in the avatar of a spear under a Kadamba tree.

• Many festivities are associated with the tree and ‘Karam-Kadamba’ also known as ‘Posatt’ or the ‘Koral parba’ is a popular harvest festival, celebrated on the eleventh lunar day of Bhadra. A twig of the tree is worshipped in the courtyard of the house. Later in the day, young ears of grain are distributed among friends and relatives — a custom adopted by Tulu people.

• In West Bengal and Odisha, agricultural communities celebrate Kadam festiva on the seventh day of shukul pakshal by planting Kadam saplings ceremoniously during the month of Bhadra. Leaves of Sal tree are offered to it along with cucumber and vermilion. This is followed by music and dance. The worshipping of kadamb tree is supposed to ensure wealth and children. A folk tale of The trader’s children is quite famous in Odisha how a twig of kadamb brought back his wealth and prosperity.

• In Theravada Buddhism, the Kadam tree was where Sumedha Buddha achieved enlightenment.

• The flowers are offered in temples and used in tribal festivals. The tree is enlisted in ‘Nakshathra Vana’ representing ‘Satabhisha’ nakshatra roughly corresponding to Aquarii (a binary star system).

• It lends its name to the ‘Kadamba Dynasty’ with Banavasi as capital, the first ruling Kingdom of Karnataka.  It was considered a holy tree by the dynasty. The spring festival, ‘Kadambotsava’ is celebrated in honour of Kadamba kingdom by the Government of Karnataka at Banavasi every year.

• Another interesting fact is that the ‘Kadamba’ flower was the emblem of Athmallik State, an erstwhile princely state of India, now part of Odisha.

• The tree has immense medicinal values besides being a beautiful ornamental tree with scented golden balls like floral heads.

• A postal stamp has also been issued by the Department of Posts to commemorate its importance.

• The tree, native to South and Southeast Asia, is widely distributed in different parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Literature works on Kadam Tree

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, an Indian Poet famous for Hindi poems has penned down a beautiful poem titled “YEH KADAM KA PED” which was later translated into English by C.P.Ravikumar. The poem reminds how one can get immense pleasure from simple things. The poem is about the desire of a small child who wishes to climb the Kadam tree near River Yamuna. The poem is as following:

यह कदंब का पेड़ अगर माँ होता यमुना तीरे।
मैं भी उस पर बैठ कन्हैया बनता धीरे–धीरे॥
ले देतीं यदि मुझे बांसुरी तुम दो पैसे वाली।
किसी तरह नीची हो जाती यह कदंब की डाली॥
तुम्हें नहीं कुछ कहता पर मैं चुपके–चुपके आता।
उस नीची डाली से अम्मा ऊँचे पर चढ़ जाता॥
वहीं बैठ फिर बड़े मजे से मैं बांसुरी बजाता।
अम्मा–अम्मा कह वंशी के स्वर में तुम्हे बुलाता॥
 सुन मेरी बंसी को माँ तुम इतनी खुश हो जाती।
मुझे देखने काम छोड़ कर तुम बाहर तक आती॥
तुमको आता देख बांसुरी रख मैं चुप हो जाता।
पत्तों में छिपकर धीरे से फिर बांसुरी बजाता॥
गुस्सा होकर मुझे डांटती, कहती “नीचे आजा“।
पर जब मैं ना उतरता, हंसकर कहती “मुन्ना राजा“॥
“नीचे उतरो मेरे भैया तुम्हें मिठाई दूंगी।
नए खिलौने, माखन–मिसरी, दूध मलाई दूंगी“॥
बहुत बुलाने पर भी माँ जब नहीं उतर कर आता।
माँ, तब माँ का हृदय तुम्हारा बहुत विकल हो जाता॥
तुम आँचल फैला कर अम्मां वहीं पेड़ के नीचे।
ईश्वर से कुछ विनती करतीं बैठी आँखें मीचे॥
तुम्हें ध्यान में लगी देख मैं धीरे–धीरे आता।
और तुम्हारे फैले आँचल के नीचे छिप जाता॥
तुम घबरा कर आँख खोलतीं, पर माँ खुश हो जाती।
जब अपने मुन्ना राजा को गोदी में ही पातीं॥
इसी तरह कुछ खेला करते हम–तुम धीरे–धीरे।
यह कदंब का पेड़ अगर माँ होता यमुना तीरे॥

Uses:

• Kadamba trees are most suitable for avenues and parks besides reforestation programmes for timber and paper.
• The fruit and inflorescences are reportedly edible.
• The flowers are used in a sandalwood based perfume ‘attar.’
•  The fresh leaves are fed to cattle. It sheds large amounts of leaf litter which on decomposition improves physical and chemical properties of soil (organic carbon, plant nutrients and ion exchange capacity).
• A yellow dye is also obtained from the root bark.
• According to one research report, leaf extract is useful in the production of silver nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
• Kadamb trees also have an important place in our traditional medicines. The roots are used to treat bronchial issues, fever, muscular pain, poisonous bites, gynaecological disorders, and are also used as an aphrodisiac. The bark is used for rheumatic pain. The leaves are used to alleviate pain and swelling and to treat ulcers. Leaf juice is used in the treatment of jaundice. The fruit juice is considered to be a good lactating agent.

Happy Gardening!!

                                                                                                                                                      Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

Orchid Cactus: Epiphyllums

• Commonly called orchid cactus, Epiphyllums are the gems of the cactus world. They produce beautiful blooms which open only briefly and produce an entrancing scent. They are called cactus orchid plants because of the outstanding blooms which resemble some orchid species.

• There are many types of Epiphyllums, but most of them are epiphytic and live in trees while a few species are terrestrial.

• New hybrids are also being introduced to the market, which means numerous types of cactus orchid will be available to choose from.

• Epiphyllums are native to the tropical Americas and range from Mexico to Central America and even into the Caribbean.

• Epiphyllums are available in various varieties available like dwarf, hanging, epiphytic etc. and in variety of colours.

•  Orchid cactus has flat, fleshy stems with serrated edges. Most have a trailing appearance but since there are hundreds of cultivars, other habits can be found as well. During the hottest part of the year, these cacti need a bit of shade. Otherwise, they need temperatures between 7 degrees to 21 degrees C.

•  All Epiphyllums are heat lovers and cannot tolerate any freezing temperatures. There are both day flowering and night blooming species. Epiphyllums variety of flower colors range from purples, to pink hues, oranges, reds and even white. In their native range, they are tree dwelling plants whose roots take nutrients and moisture from the air. As such, they have very low nutrient needs and their primary requirement is humidity.

• They are primarily, Selenicereus, Epiphyllums, Rhipsalis, and Disocactus.

• For growing Epiphyllum plants, humid conditions are required that mimic their tropical rainforest home. Mist plants frequently, especially in hot conditions.

• Use a light, well-draining, humus-rich potting mixture. Cactus orchids prefer to be pot bound but, when necessary, repot them after flowering.

• Feed the plant with low nitrogen in late winter/early spring and again in mid fall. Stop fertilizing in the winter months and reduce watering by half. During the growing season, keep containers evenly moist, especially during flowering.

• Easiest way to get more of these beautiful plants is by simply removing a length of stem, allow it to callus over for a couple of weeks and then insert the stem in moistened sand. Keep the cutting in moderate light and slightly on the dry side until rooting occurs.

Some popular Epiphyllums cacti varieties are as following:

Red: Arlene, Beautiful Red & Miss America

Pink: Unforgettable, Millennium & Ophelia

Purple: Dragon Fruit &Miss Hollywood

Yellow: Jennifer Anne, King of Yellows & Desert Falcon

Orange:  Cutie, Dragon & Heart Hawaii

White: French Sahara, Fred Bouton & College Queen

HAPPY GARDENING!!

D. K. Sharma

             sharmadk.703@gmail.com

Literary corner

जय घोष नहीं रणभेरी है

ये करतल ध्वनि, ये शंख नाद
जय घोष नहीं रणभेरी है।

सुन काल का ये अट्ठहास
देख जल, पीले पड़े पलाश
सुर्ख बादल, सुर्ख परबत
सुर्ख हुआ ये नभ विशाल।

प्रकृति के क्रंदन को सुन
सुन मातृभूमि का ये कराल
हमनें रौंदा है नभ को
देख, अब रौंद रहा हमें महाकाल।

गंगा की धारा मंद पडी
हिमालय मौन खड़ा विशाल
देख लहू की बहती धारा
चाहे नभ हो, या हो पाताल।

काम , क्रोध, मद, लोभ से
धरती, नभ, पाताल छला
अब देख, तू ले फैसला
अब काल तेरे द्वार खड़ा।

मत भाग, बदहवास,
रुक मुड़ के देख ज़रा
कहाँ, क्या छोड़ आया
चैन, मानवता, प्रेम, भरोसा।

मानवता हुई छिन्न भिन्न
कितने ही रिश्ते टूटे
इस दुनिया की रेल पेल में
सारे अपने छूटे।

रुक, ठहर, अवलोकन कर
अब तू कर विश्राम ज़रा
क्या खोया, कितना पाया
इसका कर तू हिसाब ज़रा।

ये दौड़ नहीं है, जीवन है
विष, अमृत का कर विचार
ये जीवन तो एक उत्सव है
ये उत्सव मना, हर पल, हर बार।

(मेरी पुस्तक “कुछ अक्स रेत पर” से ली गयी एक रचना )

Sushil Bhatia

sush16534@gmail.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 2

(COURTESY : SUGANDHA SINGHANIA)

FIND THE NAMES OF FLOWERS

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

THE COLORED FESTIVALS OF INDIA

LOHRI & PONGAL

Just close your eyes, and visualize.

You are wandering in northern part of India, somewhere around Punjab.

You can feel the cool, evening breeze kissing your face and sliding off.

You can see the people moving around with zest, the streets are lit in festive décor.

The narrow lanes are all decked up in various hues, the kids running around from door to door asking for gifts; village damsels collecting logs of wood.

As you turn the corner, you find a huge bon fire lit up amidst the row of houses, with the ladies and gentlemen, all dressed up in best of festive, traditional dresses, gathered around the fire and breaking into their traditional folk songs. And if you hear the children singing

Sunder mundriye ho!                               “सूंदर मुंदरिये, हो!

Tera kaun vicharaa ho!                            तेरा कौन विचारा, हो!

Dulla Bhatti wala ho!                                 दुल्ला भट्टी वाला, हो !”

Which literally means “Hey beautiful girl, who will admire you”……….

You surely can imagine it is 13 of January, and it is the festival of Lohri being celebrated in the northern countryside. For the people of Punjab and other states in northern India, the festival of Lohri holds a great significance, as it marks the end of winter season, and beginning of the harvesting season of Rabi crop.

People gather around a huge bon fire and exchange pleasantries, which is symbolic of devotion of Sun God. The huge flames of the fire are taken as the messengers to the Sun God.

There are many other folklores attached with Lohri.  One of the folklores has it that a man, named Dulla Bhatti, used to rob the rich persons and give the loot to the poor.  Legend has it that he also used to rescue girls, who otherwise would have been sold as slaves.  And hence, his name appears in the folk songs.

The festival also marks the entry of the Sun into northern hemisphere, and is celebrated a night before Makar Sankranti (entry of Sun into Makar Rashi, or Capricorn), also known as Magha, and typically falls on the same day every year.

Moreover, Lohri is supposed to be very auspicious for newlyweds and newly borns.

Huge fairs, also called Magha Mela, are organised and devotees take a dip in the holy rivers of India. Kite Flying festivals are organised at many places and have become a major tourist attraction.

The festival of Lohri in North India coincides with many festivals in other states, like Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Magha Bihu in /Assam, Tai Pongal in Kerala and so on.

Pongal is a 3-day harvest festival, observed in Tamil Nadu.  The three days of Pongal are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal. Pongal festival is named after the ceremonial “Pongal”, which means “to boil, overflow” and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery.  As per some historians, the dish can be traced back to Chola Period.

However, it must be remembered that India is a country of diverse traditions and cultures.  But what is important is that all the traditions, by whatever names you may call them, do the job of keeping we Indians bound and connected together, like so many flowers of the same garland.

Wishing you a Happy Lohri, and a Happy Pongal.

Sushil Bhatia

sush16534@gmail.com

HERBS ASSOCIATED WITH MONTHS & THEIR ADVANTAGES

1. JANUARY: Marigold it makes people respect you, treats infections, promotes skin tissue repair, reduces risk of chronic eye diseases like cataract, reduces inflammation, eases cramps etc.
2. FEBRUARY: Juniper it protects you from accidents, helps in purifying blood, removes excess gas from intestine, removes toxins from body, calms repetitive thoughts, clear skin blemishes etc.
3. MARCH: Basil it helps in increasing positivity, fights cancer, promotes heart health, regulates normal liver functioning, eases inflammation, alkaline the body etc.
4. APRIL: Holly it increases dreams, peace, goodwill, leaves act as diaphoretic, febrifuge and expectorant for fever, rheumatism and bronchitis, fresh juice helps in jaundice, barks and leaves helps in broken bones etc.
5. MAY: Nutmeg breaks hexes, reduces bad cholesterol, boost immune system, treats kidney infections, improves brain health, digestion etc.
6. JUNE: Peony brings Good luck, promotes liver health, reduces pain and inflammation, reduces hair loss, white peony roots used as tonic for blood and eliminating internal heat from liver etc.
7. JULY: Cattail increases energy, controls diabetes, natural antiseptic, prevents cancer, controls hypertension etc. 
8. AUGUST: Oak brings wisdom, acts as astringent, cures dental issues, relieves congestion in respiratory tract, helps maintain moisture and oil balance in skin etc.
9. SEPTEMBER:  Saffron increases psychic powers, busts mood swings, boost memory, battles weakness and improve immunity, helps in menstrual problems, beats dark circles etc.
10. OCTOBER: Cinnamon helps you focus, controls blood sugar, insect repellent, natural rooting hormone, alertness, memory and cognitive development etc.
11. NOVEMBER: Ginseng wards off evils, used as antioxidant, helps in weight loss, improves energy levels, decreases fatigue, prevents cancer etc.
12. DECEMBER:  Wormwood protects from evil eye, supports liver and gall bladder function, regulates blood circulation, helps stomach and regulates digestion, good for insomnia etc.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY!!

Sugandha Singhania

sugandhacpsinghania@gmail.com

(PHOTO CREDITS BY SANGEETA CHATTERJEE, SUNITA KAKKAR)

THE TEAM BEHIND

“THE HFS TIMES“

Mrs Rama Tyagi            Director HFS

Mr Som Dutt Tygi          Advisor                          

Gp Capt Sushil Bhatia     Chief Editor

Ms Vandana Bhatnagar     Editor and Content Provider

Ms Sugandha Singhania Asst Editor

Ms Shailja Mishra          Editor and Content Provider

Mr Sandeep Rohilla      Executive & Marketing Editor

Ms Sonia Agrawal          Creative Editor

Mr Devraj Singh             Technical Head