Nature celebrated Ugadi on March 20: wildlife activist

Telugu new year falls on the day when the unique Mungari molaka blossoms

DESTINED TO BLOSSOM: Wildlife activist T. Hanumanthu showing a rare plant- golden shoot at Kurnool.— Photo: U. Subramanyam

KURNOOL: While people were divided over celebrating Ugadi on March 19 or 20 this year, nature celebrated it on March 20, according to wildlife activist T. Hanumanthu.

According to Mr. Hanumanthu, ముంగరి మొలక (mungari molaka) (pre-monsoon shoot or golden shoot), a rare plant blossomed on March 20. The plant is unique and destined to blossom only on Ugadi day every year.

As the controversy raged over the festival day, Mr. Hanumanthu went in search of the plant in the vicinity of his village M. Agraharam in Pathikonda constitutency of Kurnool district on March 19 but could spot it only the next day.

According to him, the plant shoots into the open from the pristine rocky soil only on Ugadi day. People can blindly follow the blossoming of the plant to celebrate the Telugu new-year.

The plant with a few branches up to a height of two feet has very short life of 24-36 hours. And it is not seen any time in the year except the next Ugadi day.

The violet coloured plant is very tender and develops several pods.

This year 15 such pods were noticed, which according to villagers is going to be very prosperous year.

Mr. Hanumanthu, a wildlife activist, is honorary wildlife warden appointed by the Forest Department in recognition of his service to protection of forests and wildlife.

The nature-lover who observed the operation black buck since its inception, which was meant for reducing the population to half in order to control crop damage, said the animals sensed the human interference in their life and migrated to unconventional areas like Bellary.

Over 3,000 animals were caught and shifted to Macharla in Guntur.

Courtesy: The Hindu