 The
Department of Posts, Government of India, celebrated the legendary
flower of Western Ghats through issue of a commemorative stamp on May 29, 2006.The Rs.15 stamp features a bunch of kurinji flowers in bloom. The flowers finds its first recorded mention in the Tamil Sangam classics such as Akananuru, Purananuru and Madurai Kanchi. A Sangam poet praises a king as the one who rules over a country where the kurinji honey is in plenty. The honey gathered during the flowering season of kurinji from the vicinity of its blooms is said to have special properties. Kurinji has many associations with romance. Legend has it that Murugan, the lord of kurinji land, married Valli by adorning her with a garland of kurinji flowers. |
|
 |
Voluntary groups organise exhibitions A series of exhibitions were organised by various voluntary groups in different parts of the State to disseminate information on kurinji and spread the message for conservation of its habitat. The Malabar Natural History Society organised an exhibition in Kozhikode on June 5. It was part of programmes organised by the Forest Department in connection with the World Environment Day. An exhibition was held in Trivandrum on June 6 and 7 under the auspices of Greens, Secretariat. The Youth Hostels Association, Malappuram Chapter, organised an exhibition in Malappuram on June 1 and 2. The Save Kurinji Campaign Council had earlier organised exhibitions in Munnar and Kodaickanal.. The exhibitions featured photographs of kurinji in full bloom across mountain ranges and pictures of its habitat. The exhibits also included photographs and posters showing the destruction of its habitat. Many of the rivers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu rise from the shola grasslands. The exhibition highlighted the importance of the kurinji habitat in ensuring the health of the river systems and water security. More News on Next Page |
