Dakshina Kannada: A branch of the Pranatipatra plant, which is rarely found in the forests of the Western Ghats region including some gardens of Sulya, has the ability to burn like a wick. If you pour oil in a lamp and put a branch of plantain plant in it and set it on fire, it will burn like a wick. Another specialty of this plant is that its shoots appear bright on moonlit nights.
Natural means to meet the need for light
In earlier times, there were no modern devices like today to meet the need of light during darkness. At that time, people used to light lamps using special materials found in nature to meet their lighting needs. Such lamp-lighting plants are rarely found in the forests of the Western Ghats.
Importance of plants in life related to nature
Before the establishment of houses and monasteries, all humans lived in forests. We know that they used to produce fire by rubbing stones. To keep the spark thus generated burning, they probably used the twig of this particular plant. This plant is a rare specimen found in the lap of nature.
candle burning plant
A branch of the Pranatipatra plant, which is found in the Western Ghats, has the ability to burn like a wick. If you pour oil in a lamp and put a branch of this plant in it and set it on fire, it burns like a wick. A twig of this plant burns faster and longer than a cotton or cloth wick. It is kept burning until the lamp oil runs out. Another feature of this plant is that its leaves glow on moonlit nights.
Special use of this plant in Dakshina Kannada
This plant is still found in some gardens of Sulya area of Dakshina Kannada district. People familiar with this plant use its twigs as wicks to light oil lamps on special occasions.
Importance of lighting lamps in traditional ways
Before the advent of modernity, humans used to produce fire by rubbing stones and obtained oil from the nuts of the Pundi tree found in the forests. Furthermore, Jinappa, the custodian of the Pranatipatra plant, told “Local 18 Kannada” that he used to use the twigs of this plant as wicks to light the lamp at night.
Tradition of lighting lamps on special occasions
People who have this special plant in their gardens use its twigs to light oil lamps on special occasions including Diwali. Some people celebrate the festival of Diwali by lighting lamps from the branches of this plant.
Tags: Awesome Awesome, Local18, Special Project
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 4, 2024, 16:52 IST
