Bilongoni

Amloi Parua

Assam Tea Garden (অসমৰ চাহ বাগিচা)

History of Assam tea 

Wake up at morning and a sip of tea, perhaps it is one of the most rejuvenating experience one could have imagined and with Assam tea refreshment will be double. Assam is popular around the world for it's refreshing, full bodied malty tea. Assam tea had been cultured long back (about 2000 years ago) when tea was only consumed as a health drink or medicine by the tribes but it was the first time when Bodos, brought tea in the limelight. After the world recognition of this amazing beverage, geographical and economical configuration had been altered dramatically. Vast wild forest 

metamorphosed into beautiful embracing tea gardens.

Present scenario
Once neglected beverage is now the most prominent drink of world and India is the largest producer. About 400 millions kgs of tea per year comes from Assam. It contribute more than half of total countries tea production. Tea is an integral part of the amiable Assamese people as well as world. People starts their day with a steaming cup of brew and take it in a regular interval for refreshing mood. In India guests are welcomed by offering a cup of tea. In Assam the traditional way to taste the brew is in Bell Matel Bowl called "Banbati".

Tea gardens are good for holiday trip
Exquisite and incredibly silent tea gardens are bliss for eyes. These are mainly located in the upper Assam and southern Barak Valley region. Serene and smiling tea gardens are one of the major tourist attraction. Enjoy the lush greenery of the undulating tea gardens on both sides of the highway while driving to different tea gardens is an exhilarating sightseeing. 

Production of Tea
Production of tea is much like wine. Most of tea undergoes fermentation process, green tea is only exception. Shape of leaf, climate, method of production and soil are causes to give its characteristics flavor. Tea is of three types- Black tea, which is most consumed (more than 90% in the world). Unfermented Green tea, which is important beverage of Chinese and now these days researchers find many medicinal values in it and Ooglong tea, which is partially fermented. Assam is number one production center of black tea. Popularly known as "tippy teas", which is black tea with golden tips. Black tea usually of two types a) orthodox, which more export and have a high demand in the International market. b)Indians are mostly consume CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea because it is less bitter and produce a red rich color when they are boiled. Mainly, Assam is popular for black tea and Darjeeling is for CTC.

Life at Tea Garden
Life at tea garden is oblivion to most of the outsiders.Trees are grown in bushes,the tea bushes are about 3 feet in height with an even surface from the top of which the pluckers pluck the tea leaves. The lay of the land in a tea garden is waving so that excess rainwater or irrigation water does not remain standing at the roots but flows away after watering the soil. Unfortunately, life of tea workers is worsening day by day, at least 700 tea workers have died from diseases linked with malnutrition over the past year after closure of tea estates. Daily wages of tea workers are much lower than tea workers in Kerala and other states

Forget Me Not "ফৰগেট মী নট". (Scientific name:- Disambiguation)

Forget Me Not "ফৰগেট মী নট". (Scientific name:- Disambiguation).

Description :-

here are approximately 50 species in the genus, with much variation. Most have small, (1 cm diameter or less) flat, 5-lobed blue, pink or white flowers with yellow centers, growing on scorpioid cymes. They bloom in spring. Leaves are alternate. Popular in gardens, Forget-me-nots prefer moist habitats and where they are not native, they have escaped to wetlands and riverbanks. They can tolerate partial sun and shade.

Forget-me-nots may be annual or perennial plants. Their root systems are generally diffuse. Their seeds are found in small, tulip-shaped pods along the stem to the flower. The pods attach to clothing when brushed against and eventually fall off, leaving the small seed within the pod to germinateelsewhere. Seeds can be collected by putting a piece of paper under the stems and shaking them. The seed pods and some seeds will fall out.

They are widely distributed. Many Myosotis species are endemic to New Zealand, though it is likely that the genus originated in the Northern Hemisphere. One or two European species, especially the Wood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica have been introduced into most of the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America. Myosotis scorpioides is also known as scorpion grass due to the spiraling curve of its inflorescence. Myosotis alpestris is the state flower of Alaska.

Krishnachura Phool " কৃষ্ণচুড়া ফৃল " . (Scientific name :-Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Krishnachura Phool " কৃষ্ণচুড়া ফৃল " . (Scientific name :-Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Description

Peacock Flower at Assam

It is a shrub growing to 3 m tall. The leaves are bipinnate, 20–40 cm long, bearing 3-10 pairs of pinnae, each with 6-10 pairs of leaflets 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm broad. The flowers are borne in racemes up to 20 cm long, each flower with five yellow, orange or red petals. The fruit is a pod 6–12 cm long.

Uses

Medicinal

Medicine men in the Amazon Rainforest have long known some of the medicinal uses for Caesalpinia pulcherrima, which is known as ayoowiri. Four grams from the root is also said to induce abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy

Korobi Phool "কৰবী ফৃল"

Korobi Phool "কৰবী ফৃল"

Metaka '' মেতেকা'' (Pistia stratiotes)

Metaka '' মেতেকা'' (Scientific name :- Pistia stratiotes) is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. Its native distribution is uncertain, but probably pantropical,It is now present, either naturally or through human introduction, in nearly all tropical and subtropical fresh waterways. The genus name is derived from the Greek word πιστός (pistos), meaning "water," and refers to the aquatic nature of the plants

Description :-

It is a perennial monocotyledon with thick, soft leaves that form a rosette. It floats on the surface of the water, its roots hanging submersed beneath floating leaves. The leaves can be up to 14 cm long and have no stem. They are light green, with parallel veins, wavy margins and are covered in short hairs which form basket-like structures which trap air bubbles, increasing the plant's buoyancy.The  flowers are dioecious, and are hidden in the middle of the plant amongst the leaves. Small green berries form after successful fertilization. The plant can also undergo asexual reproduction. Mother and daughter plants are connected by a short stolon, forming dense mats.

Uses :-

Water lettuce is often used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and small fish. It is also helpful as it outcompetes algae for nutrients in the water, thereby preventing massive algal blooms.

Bougainvillea "বাগানভেলীয়া"(Nyctaginaceae),

Grenada's national flower is the Bougainvillea "বাগানভেলীয়া"(Scientific name :- Nyctaginaceae), a genus of woody climbers. Bougainvilleas are widely-grown and popular tropical vines whose main attractions are very colorful bracts or leaves. These bracts are mistaken by many as the flowers of the plant because of their prominence. The flowers are actually the trumpet-like, small, white and inconspicuous items surrounded by the bracts. Each cluster of three flowers has three to six bracts surrounding them. Best outdoors, the plants can be used as hedges, or can be in pots, hanging from ceiling rafters or in hanging baskets.

Bougainvilleas are easy to grow and propagate, especially in areas with warm weather and plenty of sun. They come from the Nyetayinacce family of small trees, vines and shrubs. The vine itself is thorny and woody in most species, the most popular of which is the galabra or "paper flower," so called because of its paper-like bracts. Different species have different colored bracts like red, orange, white, purple, yellow and pink, among a few others. They grow in soil where most other plants do, up to 15 to 25 feet high and 25 to 35 wide.

Nayan Tora Phool ''নযনতৰা'' (Catharanthus roseus)

Nayan Tora Phool  ''নযনতৰা'' Scientific name is :- Catharanthus Roseus, commonly known as the Madagascar periwinkle, is a species of Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Other English names occasionally used include Cape periwinkle, rose periwinkle, rosy periwinkle, and "old-maid"

Distribution :-

It is an evergreen subshrub or herbaceous plant growing to 1 m tall. The leaves are oval to oblong, 2.5–9 cm long and 1–3.5 cm broad, glossy green, hairless, with a pale midrib and a short petiole 1–1.8 cm long; they are arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers are white to dark pink with a darker red centre, with a basal tube 2.5–3 cm long and a corolla 2–5 cm diameter with five petal-like lobes. The fruit is a pair of follicles 2–4 cm long and 3 mm broad

Uses :-

The species has long been cultivated for herbal medicine and as an ornamental plant. In Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) the extracts of its roots and shoots, though poisonous, is used against several diseases.[citation needed] In traditional Chinese medicine, extracts from it have been used against numerous diseases, including diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.The substances vinblastine and vincristine extracted from the plant are used in the treatment of leukemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Xewali phool "শেৱালী ফুল" or the Night-flowering Jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)

Xewali phool "শেৱালী ফুল" or the Night-flowering Jasmine (scientific name:Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) is used widely in Assamese cuisine not only because of it's availability but also because of it's various medicinal properties. Assamese cuisine is fascinating to me because of it's inclusion of various herbs and greens-some of which are unique in characteristic.

Description :
The flower contains five to eight petals and a bright reddish orange centre,it is highly fragrant,if you pick the flowers your hands smell good for a very long time.One interesting fact about them is that they bloom only at night time as you can see here in these pictures.I took two shots one at day time where you can see many buds and another at night when you can clearly see the blooms.As soon as the first rays of sunlight hit them they fall ,it is a beautiful sight when you see a lovely and sweet smelling white carpet of Khewali-phool first thing in the morning...it is always rush hour for me at that time so could not manage one picture of the same.My mom-in-law and my kids collect the fallen flowers in a plate , some of which are offered to God later and most of it goes straight to the kitchen.Unlike other flowers this flower can be offered to God even if they are collected from the earth(or are fallen ).

Ulu-kher "ওলু খেৰ" Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv

Ulu-kher "ওলু খেৰ" .Scientific name:-Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.

Erect, tufted, perennial grass with rhizomatic underground parts; stem leafy; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, flat; silvery silky panicles cylindrical.

Distribution   :  Common throughout the state of Assam.

Uses    :  Roots and stem used in blistering spots on the body with pain and sensation, arthritis, dysuria and haematuria.

Madhavi Lata Flowers.(মাধৱী লতা) Hiptage benghalensis

 Madhavi Lata Flowers.(মাধৱী লতা) Scientific name :- Hiptage benghalensis of Assam

 Mādhavī-latā is a plant which was very much liked by Kṛṣṇa, Mādhavī-latā. It is a flower plant, Mādhavī-latā, and Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā used to take pleasure underneath that plant. So anything related with Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa.

Origin:

 Native to warm-temperate Asia (South China and Taiwan) and tropical Asia (India; Indochina; Indonesia; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Sri Lanka; Thailand). Also cultivated elsewhere in the tropics, and widely introduced to Hawaii. Other species occur in Western China, subtropical Asia, Formosa, Malaya and Pacific Islands.

The genus name, Hiptage, is derived from the Greek, hiptamai, which means "to fly" and refers its unique three-winged fruit.

Patabahar "পাত বাহাৰ"

Patabahar "পাত বাহাৰ"

Ahom Bogori (আহোম বগৰী)

Ahom Bogori (আহোম বগৰী). It is found in Assam. It is kind of fruit.

Keteki phool (কেতেকী ফুল) Pandanus fascicularis Lamk.

Keteki phool (কেতেকী ফুল) The scientific name of Keteki phool is Pandanus fascicularis Lamk.

Description :

Much branched shrub or small tree; leaves narrow, acuminate, coriaceous; flowers dioecious, small, on catkin like, simple or branched axillary spadices, clothed with leaf like spathes, very fragrant; fruits globose or oblong mass of free or connate, wooly or fleshy angular drupes; seeds minute.

Uses :  Roots and flowers used in headache and rheumatic pain; leaves used in skin diseases and in leprosy.

Kopou Phool কপৌ ফুল(Rhyncostylists retusa)

"Kopou Phool" কপৌ ফুল (dove flower) which is also known as "foxtail orchid" Scientific name of Kopou Phool is Rhyncostylists retusa.

         Rhynchostylis retusa is an exotic blooming orchid, belonging to the Vanda alliance. The orchid has a bunch consisting of more than 100 pink-spotted white flowers.They have stout, repent, short stem carrying up to 12, curved, fleshy, deeply channeled, keeled, retuse apically leaves and blooms on an axillary pendant to 60 cm (24 in) long, racemose, densely flowered, cylindrical inflorescence that occurs in the winter and early spring.

Uses

Medicinally the plant is used to treat wounds, cuts and bruises.

In Assam, it is popularly known as Kopou Phool, and is an integral part of a Bihu dancer's attire. Among the youths, this orchid is regarded as symbol of love. This orchid also acts as a symbol of fertility and merriment. The inflorescence is also used in the marriage ceremony of the local people. Considering the importance of this orchid, it is usually seen under cultivation in almost all Assameese families and its the state flower of Assam.

Pink

Talatal Ghar (তলাতল ঘৰ)

Location :
Talatal Ghar  (তলাতল ঘৰ) is located in Rangpur, 4 Km from the present day Sibsagar, Assam.

Highlight :
Swargadeo Rudra Singha shifted the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from Garhgaon to Rangpur in the year 1702-03 A.D. For about a centuryRangpur remained as the Capital. It is located in the western part of the Sibsagar town. The first construction was done by Swargadeo Rudra Singha in the year 1698 A.D. Rangpur was not only the capital of the Ahom Kingdom but also the military-station.

Kareng Ghar ''কাৰে৺ঘৰ''

LOCATION:

Situated at Garhgaon(Gargaon) which is around 15 kms away from Sivasagar Town. 

HIGHLIGHT:

Kareng Ghar ''কাৰে৺ঘৰ'' is the remains of royal palace of Ahom kings when Garhgaon was their kingdom's capital. 

Garhgoan was the principal seat of the Ahoms for more than four centuries. The chronicle sources refer that Suklengmung, the 15th Ahom king established the capital at Garhgoan and constructed a palace with wood and other impermanent material in the year 1540 AD. Later, king Pramatta Singha constructed a brick wall and masonry gateway in the capital complex. The present multistoried edifice was built by king Rajeswar Singha in 1752 AD. The fort and the royal complex were badly damaged and disfigured due to procurement of raw materials for building from the monument. The structural remains in the fortified complex stand as a mute testimony of the Ahom kings of the bygone days.