Abolim or ‘firecracker flowers’ are traditionally planted at the fag end of the monsoons, during September-October to get flowers in spring and summer when they are in peak demand for Zagor, Haldi-kumkum, nataks, Lent and the wedding season. There is Justicia infundibuliformis which is abolim, the symbol of sacrifice.
The common name ‘firecracker flower’ refers to the seed pods which tend to ‘explode’ when the dried flower spikes are exposed to high humidity or rainfall. The fallen seeds then germinate on the ground.
Traditional fulkars, or families who grow flowers collect the mature pods, dry them and extract the seeds for sowing on raised beds or on ridges made in the porsum or kitchen garden.
As the monsoon rains taper off during September in Goa, the seedlings are transplanted, either directly in the nearby fields or in polybags for transporting over long distances.
In 1993, it was the first flower crop promoted under the central government’s floriculture scheme that I could resurrect from the red-tape folder in the Directorate of Agriculture.
The scheme had been approved, but the file was gathering dust in the cupboard when I returned from a deputation to Goa University. It was there that I learnt about its new name, Crossandra infundibuliformis.
It is an erect and evergreen plant, growing about one metre (3 ft) tall. It has glossy, dark green leaves with wavy margins. It can tolerate shade.
The plant is susceptible to nematodes, and so it is advisable to grow marigolds as an intercrop or in rotation with abolim. Flower colours range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red or yellow.
The plant is susceptible to nematodes, and so it is advisable to grow marigolds as an intercrop or in rotation with abolim. Flower colours range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red or yellow.
There are three types of abolim: ratan, sadim and pixim. The ratan abolim flowers always remain in the form of unopened buds. The flowers of the ratan abolim are braided together as a venni with a gabo or banana pseudo-stem fibre, and worn by women in their hair.
The venni and jhelo (garland) of abolim may have glittering golden or silver threads and other flowers from this triad or even marigold and tuberose. They add, both, colour and fragrance to the garlands.
Garlands of abolim are also used for religious ceremonies across religions, regions and languages.
Crossandra is known as Priyadarshini across India in Hindi, Tamil, Nepali, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam and other languages. It is quite rare for a plant or flower to have such a commonality of names across languages.
Abolim are a part of the celebrated triad of flowers and of the dulpod to which the ‘dekhnni’ is danced: “Xinvtim, mogrim, abolim; mathian mhojea mavtolim”. These flowers may also be fashioned into cylindrical garlands or jhelo and worn as a wrist-band by dekhnni dancers. It is a part of Goan culture that is on display for tourists even on cruise boats on the River Mandovi.