Panaji, Jan 22 (PTI) After being pushed into nearoblivion, Goa's celebrated `Abolim' flower is getting backinto the limelight with a group of like-minded people workingon a project to revive it.
Scientifically known as crossandra infundibuliformis,Abolim was notified as the state flower in the early 1970sbecause of its importance in Goa's socio-cultural life.
But over the years, it virtually vanished from thestate's floriculture map, forcing its imports from adjoiningKarnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
"Abolim once again needs to feature prominently in thestate's socio-cultural life for which the efforts are nowbeing made.
"There are only a few pockets left now where the treesbearing Abolim flowers are planted. The rest of Goa hasforgotten them," said Minguel Braganza, Secretary of theBotanical Society of Goa.
Braganza has been on the forefront of a project torevive the floriculture sector, which has been gettingsecondary preference in the state's economic scenario.
Braganza said the `Abolim', found only in Sri Lanka,Goa and parts of South India, had been part of the stateÂ’srich cultural legacy cutting across the religious barriers.
He narrated how followers of Our Lady of Milagres, aChristian deity, and Hindu Goddess Lairai used to exchange`oil' and `Abolim' as a part of intercultural tradition asboth the deities are considered sisters.
He said there are some festivals which are incompletewithout `Abolim'.
Joining hands with Braganza, the Nirmala Institute ofEducation, the state's oldest teacher training school, hasdedicated its annual event to the flower and named it`Abolianchem Fest' (a festival dedicated to Abolim).
"The institute does not want to project Goa as theland of sand, Sun and fun as done in tourism brochures. Ourefforts have always been to project the cultural heritage ofthe state," said Rita Paes, director of the institute and aformer principal.
She said the festival, to be held on March 10 at theinstituteÂ’s premises in Panaji, will celebrate the stateÂ’sfood, flowers, music and other legacies.
Braganza said there is no figure as to what quantityof `Abolim' is imported to Goa as there are no organisedflower markets in the state.
He said conservationists have decided to approach theagriculture department and request them to initiate measuresto save the flower from becoming extinct in the state. PTI RPSRSY.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.