Nila Kurinji

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Strobilanthes kunthianus

Every twelve years this flower blooms. Eravikulam National Park. The wait for the kerala rains to subside appeared to go on forever. Finally the rain Gods relented and got the shots.

Canon EOS 1Dx Mark II, 400mm, ISO 500, f18, full frame image.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Murugan Anantharaman]

Beautiful flower the Neelakurunji is, thanks for sharing this Sabyasachi. While I haven't seen this bloom I have heard a lot about it. It finds great place in Tamil literature too. The favorite flower of Lord Muruga or Kartikeya, it gained divine importance when Lord Muruga's consort Valliammai placed a garland of neelakurunji flowers around Him as a part of the marriage ritual. Neela means blue and kurunji is flower, other tamil experts can translate kurunji better. Looks like the picture has been taken after fresh rains as water droplets can be seen on the flowers. Thanks for sharing.