Subrat Kumar Nath has stolen limelight as a rare thousand-petal lotus has bloomed in his garden in this western Odisha city. This is indeed a significant phenomenon considering the local climate.
Nath, a resident of SRIT Colony, said this is the first thousand-petal lotus to have bloomed in Odisha’s western region and the second in the State. Notably, this rare variety of lotus is bigger in size and more attractive than other flowers of the lotus family.
In local parlance, it is termed as ‘Sahasradal Kamal’. As the flower matures, it forms a big ball emanating a strong sweet fragrance. It lasts for over two weeks.
This flower is revered and offered to Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity.