I had lined up a series of blogs based on my recent trip to Varanasi ( alias Benaras & Kashi) and I hope you have read them which commenced with BLISS in KASHI.
However am breaking the continuity ( in a way) as a series of events elapsed and I find myself posting this blog based on a wonderful plant I saw in Pune many months ago.
This is the Red Ginger, Jungle King or Ostrich Plume ( English) plant , Alpinia purpurata (Scientific name) the origins of which lie in the Malay peninsula in South East Asia.
Kashi is a wonderful ancient city and the River Banks or Ghats are splashed in the auspicious colours of Haldi ( Yellow) and Kumkum (Vermillion).( watch out for the blogs still to follow)
Turmeric ( English) or Haldi (Hindi) is now recognized worldwide as a wonder or miracle Spice and imparts the colour yellow to Indian curries and cuisines besides occupying a prominent place during Hindu Religious ceremonies.
Red Ginger and Turmeric both belong to the Ginger family Zingiberacea and thus the wonderful and elaborate Red Inflorescence you see below are similar in both Plants.
The attractive Red bracts making the bouquet are in fact faux flowers .The real flower has wilted and is seen as a clump of brown weed on the top in the picture below.
The connection that ties the National Flower of Samoa , the wonderful antiseptic and healing properties of Turmeric and Varanasi was a documentary on the importance of Haldi I saw last night in which I briefly spotted turmeric flowers which ignited a memory cell of having seen similar flowers.
On checking out pictures of an earlier trip to Pune I saw the pictures of Turmeric like flowers of the Red Ginger plant which I am now sharing above through this post.
While most in India have perhaps consumed or applied the miraculous Turmeric in one form or the other , very few would recognize the cone like Enchanting flowers of the family.
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Thank you. Same Comment three times in a row. Are u spamming??
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Sorry for that. We are not spamming.
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tks for the response and clarification.
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It was wonderful to these plants and the 💐 flowers.
Shiva
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Thank you. It was inspired from the “City of Shiva”, Kashi.
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🙏 Keep it going my Dear friend. Spread the word.
Mukul!
Shiva
👍💗
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tks
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I truly enjoy reading your posts. Thanks so much for them!
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thank you for the encouragement.
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Beautiful! I really enjoy looking at these pictures!!
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than you
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Wonderful! I was literally JUST wondering what these spices looked like in plant form!Thank you 🙂
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Welcome. the flowers are beautiful , are they not??
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I love to cook with turmeric, so it’s wonderful to be able to see the sorts of flowers that the spice comes from.
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Thank you josh. Turmeric is medicinal food, and has regenerative properties. They say it could be the cure for Alzheimers in the years to come
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Oh really? I’d heard that it’s very healthy, but didn’t know exactly why. I mostly like to use it because it’s great in curries.
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Do google on turmeric , you will get a plethora of information. In India turmeric has been used for centuries as a pain reliever and anti septic. If you make a small line on the ground with turmeric you will see ants and insects keep away.
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Jengibre/Ginger, Alpinia purpurata, also grows well here on the Pacific coast of Mexico. I find these beautiful plants along the banks of the Rio Cuale. It is a World Traveler!
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Thank you for the informative comments. Yes am aware that they do well in that region and are also the national flowers in Belize.
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Gingers are among my favourite flowers – and such a diverse species. Lovely photos.
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Wonderful indeed, thank you for your comments and visit.
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ha, I grew turmeric this year for the first time here, up north and it did produce nice roots for me to cook with. But it didn’t flower. Maybe next year…
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Thank you, that is interesting indeed.
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So beautiful… so beautiful. Your country like a naturel botanic garden, fascinated me. Thank you, Love, nia
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Thank you Nia, that is so wonderful of you to say. I know it comes from your heart and is thus pure feeling.
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Always dear Mukul, always… You are welcome, Love, nia
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all the best, have a great week ahead.
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Surprisingly beautiful!
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thank you, why surprising
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I just hadn’t seen it like that before
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ok, thanks.
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I love your blog. Do you live in India?
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Thank you. Yes, I do.
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I love your blog too! I always learn so much from you
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thank you, am elated
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Beautiful pictures and great information, thank you!
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Thank you for the lovely comments
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thank you
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Great Pics
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thank you
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Nice information
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thank you
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