Brahma Kamal is called the king of Himalayan flowers and is also the state flower of Uttarakhand.
New Delhi:
The rare Brahma Kamal, the only flower known to bloom after sunset and only once a year, has been seen in the higher reaches of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
Time-lapse videos of flowering in the snow-covered valley of the Chamoli district have fascinated the internet.
It is said that Brahma Kamal, named after the god Brahma, who is believed to have created the universe, takes about two hours to bloom to about twenty inches in diameter. The flower only blooms for a few hours, and is said to be good luck and prosperity.
Known scientifically as Saussurea Obvallata, the flower is mentioned in scripture and featured in many holy shrines, including Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Tunganath.
Brahma Kamal is called the king of Himalayan flowers and is also the state flower of Uttarakhand.
The flower is highly valued in Tibetan medicine and Ayurveda for its healing properties. It is widely used by the local population to treat cuts and bruises.
Its natural habitat has been shrinking in recent days due to global warming, human encroachment, and overexploitation.
The state government has now started nurseries in the Chamoli district to conserve the flower and its sister species, all of which have great medicinal value.
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