The luxuriant golden blooms of the ‘Kanikonna' are a heartening sight for one and all. From prosperity to abundance, the blooming of the Cassia fistula is of immense symbolic and cultural significance for Keralites. The flowering of the golden shower tree signals seasonal changes in the agriculture calendar of the State, heralding the arrival of harvest and ‘Vishu'.
However, the flowering period of Cassia fistula is advancing every passing year.
The Agrifriends Krishi Samskarika Vedi in association with the Magic Academy and the Department of Museums and Zoos is organising a discussion titled ‘Kanikonna Vismayam' to probe this phenomenon and its repercussions on farming patterns.
“The flowering of Kanikonna used to be a major signal for the farmers of the State who in fact prepared their agriculture calendar based on this. Usually the tree starts budding during peak summer season in the Malayalam month of ‘Meenam' (mid March) and comes to full bloom only by ‘Medam (mid April) in time for Vishukani,” said Agrifriends coordinator S. Jayakumar. “But for the last few years, Cassia fistula trees in the State bloom almost a month ahead, and by the time Vishu arrives, the trees would have shed their flowers and would be standing almost bare,” he said.
“If it was in the olden days, the early flowering of these trees would have upset the whole agriculture planning. Even today, the early blooming of Kanikonna has its implications with regard to farming. Basically this is indicative of climate change,” Mr. Jayakumar said.
The discussion programme will be held under the Kanikonna tree inside the Museum compound in the city on March 22. Magician Gopinath Muthukad, poet Ezhachery Ramachandran and Muraleedharan Thazhakkara, who presents the ‘Vayalum Veedum' programme in All India Radio will participate in the discussion.
