Beginning of Thai month

During the search in net while helping my daughter for her project just I have noted 'Aerva lanata' plant and wondered about its medicinal values and other important factors. The plant is commonly seen at waste ground , forests and outside the cities.

The plant was called in different names in different languages. In Tamil – Sirru pulay, Telugu -Pinde conda, Malayalam – Cherula, Marathi – Kapu madhura , Rajasthani – Bhui and in Hindi – Chaya. Normally one doesn't take care of this plant. But in Pongal days the same plant got special status.

As we know Pongal festival is celebrating all over India in different names. In Tamilnadu peoples are cleaning their houses and painted before the pongal. They also decorated with beautiful colourful kolam both inside and outside of the houses. On the day of Pongal after worshiping the God with Pongal they insert the sirru pulay flower on the top of the roof their houses. Hence here this flower is also known as Koorai Poo. Koorai means roof. Poo means Flower.

While talking with Prof.G.Thirumaran one of the Tamil Scholar of Tiruchirappalli says that this is a custom of Tamil people from early days. This flower indicates the joyful beginning of the festival celebration. There is spiritual myth also behind this koorai poo insertion. The flower will protect the people from evil spirit.

One can also wonder after hearing its medicinal values. It is a good medicine for urethral problem and also used in stone formation. Leaf decoction is best for sore throat. In those days people were using this plant as medicine for snake bite.

There is a proverb in Tamil. That is 'there is s good way by the beginning of Tamil month of 'Thai.' So whoever seeing the flower on the top of houses were happy and self motivated . Because Thai month was started and they believe there will be good future for them.