Goa’s miracle flowers, not just a balm for frayed nerves! By Devraj, Mardol (Goa): For two days in September, the captivating fragrance of “jaai” seems to overpower everything else in a small village in Goa.
Villagers of Mardol put aside all work to go to the fields and collect buds of a particular variety of jasmine, called “jaai” in local parlance, in an age-old belief that offering the flower to their residing deity will prevent them any harm. Legend has it that the residents of Mardol were struck with a vicious plague hundreds of years ago and were prompted by local beliefs to offer “jaai” to the deity. The plague never reoccurred, but the practice of offering the flowers has remained to this day. In recent years, the villagers seem to have discovered more practical, everyday miracles that the wonder blossom seems to provide. Prasad Janardhan Naik, a resident of Mardol and a chartered accountant by profession, says in times of “distress”, “jaai” does wonders for his wife’s moods. “Whenever anybody’s wife gets angry, these flowers can work as miracles to appease her. They are immensely useful for such things,” he said. But though “jaai” is found in abundance even elsewhere in this tiny state, it is the flowers of Mardol that are revered by devotees both from within and outside Goa. Many believe the enticing smell of the “jaai” of Mardol is distinct and unique to itself. During the monsoon, Mardol is full of women selling bunches and garlands of the white flowers, yet during the two-day ritual at the village temple, the flower is strictly for the deity. “The special thing is that for these two days our community will not sell even one flower. All flowers from the village are offered to the deity,” said Ramchandra, a village resident. The densely forested area of Mardol is full of “jaai” shrubs and their collection and sale is a cottage industry in itself. The women of the village mostly pluck the buds and flowers and almost the entire collection is finished early in the morning itself. The later part of the day is spent making garlands. Their hard work is rewarding, as these flowers remain much in demand.
