Parijat
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The parijat tree (known in Hindi as harsingar and Bengali as shifali) bears the botanical name of Nyctanthes arbortristis and is part of the Oleaceae family.
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[edit] Details of the plant
It is a hardy, large shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 30 feet. Its bark is greenish grey to greenish-white in color and somewhat rough in texture. It has a thick branching structure with green oval-shaped leaves and its 4 to 8 petals are arranged about a vibrant orange tube in a pinwheel pattern.[citation needed] These highly fragrant flowers open at night, filling the surrounding area with a sweet floral aroma. The morning following the night bloom, the flowers fall to the earth.
[edit] The right facts
The description of the "Flower Parijat" itself needs to be discussed first on this forum. The "Flower Harsingar" is erroneously associated with "Flower Parijat". As of now there is only one standing tree of "Flower Parijat in the world which is in Barabanki district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. And yes it does flower. And the flower is not "Harsingar". Please note at the same time that while "Harsingar" is a "shrub" the "Flower Parijat" grown on a considerably "Large Tree". "Flower Parijat" is a "large yellow flower", very ancient in looks as well as origin. It is primarily because of unavailability or rather severe limited availability of "Flower Parijat" that "Harsingar" has come to replace it in the popular local usage which, unfortunately has percolated to scientific circles as well.
[edit] Story from Hindu mythology
In Hindu mythology, there is a story involving Lord Krishna about a parijat and Krishna's two wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini. Satyabhama wanted this "Parijat" tree from the Heaven to be planted in her garden. Rukmini too, took a fancy to the flower. Krishna, wanting to keep both his wives happy, planted this tree so that the flowers fell in Rukmini’s garden while the tree remained in Satyabhama’s garden.[citation needed]
[edit] Expanding The Story From Mythology
The tree was planted in the garden of Indra, the Lord of Heavens. Even as Krishna stole a branch of the tree he was spotted by Indra. However Indra desisted from placing a curse on Krisha since he was an incarnation of Vishnu. Still, Indra put forth a curse on the stolen branch that it will never bear fruits even as the flowers may bloom on the tree. Since the day the tree planted at Barabanki does flower but can not reproduce meaning it does not have seeds and the branch also does not take root. .[citation needed]
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[edit] Parijat in Bangladesh
Parijat" is a very beautiful flower, known as "The flower of heaven".Its grows in a large bushy tree, the bud comes out of the main branch of the tree, normally any flower comes at the end of a branch, but this is different. A bud takes 21 days to bloom as a flower.
The leafs of this tree is also very beautiful, the young leafs are yellowish...then become redish .....afterwards they become green... Just a few days before I (Samia) saw one of these trees in Maheshkhali, an island in the Bay of Bengal, placed near Cox's Bazar , the largest natural sea-beach on earth. Which is situated in Chittagong , Bangladesh. "Parijat" is also seen in some other places of Bangladesh, though the tree became rare now a days.
In Maheshkhali, there is a Hindu Mandir (Temple) called "Adinath Mandir" where this flower grew, the Pujari said they use this flower for Puja (Worship) as a very special offering to God.
The bud is a tiny orange ball at first , but in 21 days it grows into a big orange ball, eventually it blooms as a bunch of red flower's with yellow pollen all over it, which gives a wonderful look to the flower.It is really nice to watch a tree with hundreds of orange balls, and some red beautiful flower with green leafs all around.
