Panaji (Goa) After being lost to the modern world, Goa’s celebrated Abolim flowers is getting back into the limelight with the like-minded people working on a project to revive it.
Abolim, which is scientifically known as Crossandra infundibuliformis has been notified as a state flower in early 70s because of its importance in State’s socio-cultural life. But over the time, it has vanished from state’s floriculture forcing the imports from neighbouring Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh.
“Abolim needs to be featured back into the State for which the efforts are now being made. There are only few pockets left now where the trees bearing Abolim flowers are planted. Rest of Goa has forgotten them,” commented Minguel Braganza, Secretary of the Botonical Society of Goa.
Braganza has been on the forefront to revive the floriculture in the State, which has been getting secondary preference in state’s industrial scenario. Braganza said that the `Abolim’ which are found only in Sri Lanka and South India, including Goa, were part of the state’s rich cultural legacy cutting across the religious boundries.
He narrated how followers of Our Lady of Milagres, a Christian deity and Hindu Goddess Lairai used to exchange ‘oil’ and ‘abolim’ as a part of intercultural tradition as both the deities are considered as sisters.
He said that there are some festivals which are incomplete without Abolim.
Joining hands with Braganza, the Nirmala Institute of Education, state’s oldest teacher training organization, has named its event on annual calender as ‘Abolianchem Fest’, means a festival dedicated to Abolim.
“This institute do not want to project Goa as it has been done in tourism brochures as the land of Sand, Sun and Fun. Our efforts have always been to project the cultural heritage of this state,” said Rita Paes, Director of the institute and former principal.
She said that the festival which will be held on March 10 at the institute’s premises in Panaji will celebrate state’s food, flowers, music and other legacy.
The institute feels that if to-be teachers are educated about our rich culture, they will pass on the message to the future generations.
Braganza said that there is no figure as to what quantity of Abolim are imported to Goa as there are no organised flower markets in the State. He said that the conservationists have decided to take up with State agriculture department asking them to initiate measures to save this flower from being extinct in the State.
