Prajakta Flower (Night-flowering Jasmine)

• Common Names: Prajakta (Marathi), Parijat (Hindi), Shiuli (Bengali), Harsingar, Night-flowering Jasmine.
• Botanical Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
• Family: Oleaceae (Jasmine family)
• Appearance: Small white petals with a distinct bright orange/coral-red centre tube.

The botanical name arbor-tristis translates to 'tree of sorrow'. This is because the flowers bloom late at night, filling the air with a sweet scent, but drop to the ground before sunrise — creating a beautiful white-and-orange carpet on the grass. The tree looks 'sorrowful' or bare during the day.

• Mythology: In Hindu mythology, the Parijat tree is a heavenly tree (Kalpavriksha) brought to earth by Lord Krishna. It is the only flower that can be offered to gods after it has fallen to the ground.
• Medicinal Uses: In Ayurveda, the leaves are boiled to make a decoction (kadha) used to treat sciatica, arthritis, and fevers like dengue and chikungunya.
• Dyes: The orange tubes of the flowers have historically been used to make a natural yellow-orange dye for Buddhist monks' robes.