Yellow magic of Parijaat: A natural source of golden yellow dye

Tale of Parijaat 

Do you know parijaat tree belongs to heaven!

It is to be said that it was a heavenly tree and as per the story mentioned in the "Harivansh Puran" Lord Krishn fought with Lord Indra to brought it to the earth from heaven to fulfill wish of her wife Satyabhama. According to Harivansh Puran it is also known as "Kalpvriksh" or a tree which bear wishes. It is normally grown upto 8-10 meters long and found in almost all of India.

Parijaat flower on the tree in home garden

Parijaat flower blossoming on the budding tree

Different Name of Parijaat

Its Sanskrit name is Parijaat and shephalika. In Hindi Harsingar Bengali Shephalika Malyalam Parijatkam Gujarati Jayaparvati Oriya Gangasiuli Kannada Parijatha Tamil Parijata  and in English it is known as Night Flowering Jasmine. 

Its scientific name is Nyctanthesarbor-tristis.

Source of natural herbal dye

Parijaat or Harsingar flowers or Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Night-flowering Jasmine): Night flowering jasmine produces a very color fast natural dye in golden yellow shade. It gave bright shade on cotton and vibrant golden yellow shade on cotton-silk, silk and modal.

Drying parijaat flower

It is one of the major source of yellow natural/herbal dye used by EcoFab for its Shefalika collection. Fastness of dye is good and good for skin too. It works as a herbal therapy for body and skin. There are many alternative of yellow color available in natural dye but natural cum herbal dye extract from parijaat flowers gives one of the brightest yellow shade. Also aroma of flowers gives heavenly feeling to both dyer and wearer of parijaat flower dyed fabrics. 

Bagh Print Modal Saree dyed with Parijaat

Maheshwari Saree dyed with Parijaat flower

Chanderi Saree dyed with Parijaat flower

Other usage of Parijaat Flower

Apart from use as a source of natural herbal dye parijaat flower and other parts of parijaat tree is used in Ayurveda to treat various health problems and diseases. 

Parijaat is one of the most precious home grown herb used for various purposes. It is anti inflammatory in nature. Whole parts of tree right from its bark, leaves and flowers used as herb to cure different diseases. 

A tea made from the Parijaat tree leaves is a remedy for diseases like normal fever, viral fever, arthritis and cough & cold.

A tea made from tulsi leaves and parijaat flower (either dry or fresh) is very aromatic in taste and a treat for green tea lovers.

For more details or purchase stuff you can visit:

www.facebook.com/ecofabbharat

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"Bhatti Pooja" by Hindu Chhippa Community

Tradition of "Furnace Praying"

I was wondering what traditional hand block printing exactly mean!! Did you know that what Indian textile tradition is? "It is a journey from ritual to spiritual." I was stunned to see that still in Tarapur an age old ritual of "Bhatti Pujan" (Furnace worship) followed by "Chippa community" belongs to the lineage of Sant Namdevji Maharaj (Poet & Saint born in 12th century) a tailor, dyer and block printer by profession. Fortunately at the time of such process I was there in Tarapur when it is to be performed. When for the first time I saw that traditional "Hindu Chhippa" community follows certain principles and traditions in hand block printing in connection with ritual to spiritual. When I asked about its relevance, 6th generation master craftsman Banwari Jhariya said: "Our ancestors were not fools they have prepared every rules and processes with certain reason behind it. There is an spiritual reason and matter discipline behind it." This very tradition of "Bhatti Pujan" performed after completion of "पितृ पक्ष" (Half month devoted to ancestors). During these 15 days of PitruPaksh or ShraddhPaksh every year Chhippa Community of Tarapur stopped Bhatti or boiling process of dyeing. After completion of "PitraPaksh" they consult with Panditji (Priest) and during Shubh Muhurat (Auspicious time) restart Bhatti (Furnace) by performing its Puja with Mantra recitation. Sharing a video of Tarapur Printers performing BhattiPuja after completion of PitraPaksh or ShraddhPaksh. Its not just a process but a tradition full of discipline, spirituality and piousness.

Video: Performing Bhatti Pujan