I belong to Berhampur a small yet important place of south Odisha . My place is famous for the silk (Berhampuri Silk) and it is a major hub for small and big business. My maternal home is 7 km away from Gopalpur-on-sea in a village known as Ramachandrapur. It is a small village with a population of about 2000. People of the village are mostly farmers earning livelihoods by rice and vegetable farming. Some of the villagers work in construction sites and some have small business in nearby places. Literacy rate of the village is about 63% out of which female literacy rate is about 27% only. My maternal home is in th eentrace of the village just few steps after the famous Laxminursingha Temple. My mother takes care of the house. We have a huge garden with varieties of flowers, medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables. The home it self is very serene and healing with beauty of nature, peace and away from urban pollution. Some clicks of garden I have captured during my stay in my maternal home.
Sri Laxminursingha temple is situated at the entrance of the village. This temple attracts many visitors everyday especially on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sankrantis and during special occasions such as Mahashivraatri, Akshaya Tritiya, Nursighna Chadurdarshi, Chandan Yatra and many more through out the year.
My home is just after the temple inside the village. It has a huge area with a very beautiful garden. The garden has variety of trees, medicinal plants and flowering plants . The home and the surrounding is very pleasant and serene. My mother takes care of the garden with the help of a lady of the village.
Mangoes the king of fruits are always a treat to the eyes and palate. We have three varieties of mangoes in our garden.
A stick insect on the front gate
Chinese honeysuckle or Rangoon creeper (
Combratum indicum) known as Madhumalati in Odiya is a vine native to tropics. Various parts of the plant is used in herbal medicines.
Tulasi is native to Indian sub continent; Planted/cultivated for medicinal and religious purposes. It is highly aromatic and medicinally significant used to treat many kinds of diseases.
This is a kind of Plumeria or commonly known as Frangipani or Katha champa in Odiya (
Plumeria pudica) with a mild fragrance. The tip of the leaf looks like a spoon.
This is Jashmine plant (
Jasminum sambac) or Malli phoola is a very common flower that blooms the most in summer. It is highly fragrant.
My all time favorite Desi Golap (Desi Gulab or Indian Rose) for its color and aroma. Petals are edible and gulkand is made out of the petals.
Tender mango leaves are medicinal and used to treat early diabetes, urinary infections and many other diseases.
Hibiscus or China rose ( or Mandara phoola in odiya) has varieties of colors in our garden. The flower and leaves of red hibiscus plants has therapeutic properties. It is used for treatment of hair fall.
