MOON BEAM AND A BLOGGER’S EYE PACK

Vernacular Languages are so accurately  descriptive especially when describing native flora and fauna. 

Chandni in Hindi says it all. Somehow when translated into Moon Beam in English , it looses a bit of the moonshine.  The magical and enchanting Chandni bush is draped with these gorgeous flowers and is a romantic  sight to behold on a moonlit night.

                                                                     Chandni

I always thought these flowers were called Periwinkle. Don’t  they looked like the paper periwinkles ( fans)  you get for children all over India. Another thing to look for on your travels within India if you have not seen them thus far.

However I  discovered a beautiful name and an eye pack for my sore eyes. while I was hunting for the botanical name of  Chandni. Scientific name Tabernaemontana Divaricata.

Simply crush the Chandni flowers in a mortar and put the paste  within the folds of a very damp muslin cotton handkerchief. Place it over your eyes and all burning sensations caused by long working  hours in front of  the computer  will be beamed  out of the window.

They are also called Carnations of India. An evergreen tree , there is a magnificent specimen outside Hema’s house in GK 1, New Delhi.

                                        The feather and the Carnation of India

Can you guess the name of the bird which left a clue behind?