Myanmar National Flower (Padauk)

The golden yellow flower  (Padauk) is the national flower of Myanmar which is valued by Burmese people. In the first month of the Burmese twelve month (Tangu), if it rains twice a row , a series of myrtle green buds will appear, and  in one night they will be full bloom as small golden saffron bell-shaped flowers. The petals are about 1.5 cm in size. Padauk flower is also a symbol of the Thingyan  Festival (Myanmar Traditional Water Festival). In Thingyan (Myanmar new year water festival) , the main decoration is Padauk flower. The mandap is also decorated with Padauk flowers). In ancient times, during the Thingyan Festival of  the Burmese Kings, water was poured into gold and silver cups and sprinkled with Padauk flowers and Padauk leaves. The Padauk is a faithful flower that blooms one month in a year, one day in a month.

On the day of the flowering, offerings are made to the pagoda, and women also adorn in their hairs. The boys show their allegiance by compare with Padauk Flower, when the flowers bloom, they pick Padauk flowers and give it to the girl they love.

 

Don’t try to pick it

Because it is the beginning of the new year

Apply zambhu liquid

To all regions

From bud to flower

Raise your head and be dizzy

She too is a woman of the world

She may want to brag

 

It is an honor

The blue clouds

By the clear breeze

Golden yellow buds

turns around and roll left and right

How can you have fun like them?

It’s so amazing

 

The Tavasin robe

Peace in the world

To make the religion bright

Deliberate and careful

Intended?

 

Don’t pick

The flowers buds are painted yellow

Because of the heart that wants to move in the middle of flowers

Enter the end of the year

It gives birth to strength and intelligence

When the opportunity

It must be an honor

Padauk flowers

 

Don’t pick golden yellow flowers  (Padauk flowers) that bloom during the New Year. The little Padauk flower will want to boast of her beauty like a human virgin. Underneath the dazzling blue sky, the mayesty of the petals  swaying left and right in the breeze. Golden yellow flowers (Padauk flowers) are inspiring to flourish Buddhism in the world. In the poem ‘ Padauk  Pan’ , the ancient poet wrote about the glory of the bright flowers that bloom in the middle of the flowers on the same day after the end of old year.

La Tangu is a beautiful month

Padauk buds are green

Really?

It is a unique flower

The top of the cave Nandamu

Pissaka Buddha had to rest

It is a shady place

One month a year

One day a month

Tough day

They bloom in the forest

The fog is heavy

Fragrances are diffused

With the golden robe

Now Thangyan Giman is back

In addition to  the radiance

It smells good along the way

It doesn’t shine as brightly as it’s

Oueen of flowers.

 

‘ Padauk Shwe Wah ‘ poem that we learned in 8th grade Burmese poetry in Myanmar text book, composed by an ancient scholar U Kywat. Green yellow flowers ( Padauk flowers ) that only bloom in the month of Tangu are incomparable to any other flower. How the shade of Padauk trees growing in the remote Himalayas provides a cool shade for the Pissaka Buddha to rest on when Thingyan arrives, the glory of the summer  princess Padauk flower is celebrated.

The beauty, the fidelity, and the preciousness of the Padauk flower have been described by poets in many different ways, but they haven’t been exhausted.

 

Padauk flower is call ‘ Gumkino flower’ in English. Padauk tree is a perennial species. The tree can grow up  to 100 feet in height. It is a type of Angiosperm. The flowers are pollinated by bees and  insects. Padauk plants prefers warm, humid climates. Padauk tree is grow not only in Myanmar but also in Southeast Asia countries such as Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. It has been naturalized in India and the Caribbean. It can also be found on beach forests and rocky shores. There are many varieties of Padauk all over the world.

Padauk wood is also a valuable wood. Burmese Padauk is a world-class retailer. Other common names of Burmese Padauk are ‘ Rose wood and Blood wood’. Padauk wood is used in high-grade furniture, flooring, musical instruments and many others.

Padauk is a herbal plant. Padauk tree is not a major food source but young leaves and flowers can be eaten. It can be used to treat diseases  such as aliments, mouth sores, mouth tumors, diarrhea, boiling heat and toothache. Red and reddish dye can be obtained from the bark. A decocting of the leaves is also used in shampoos.

The golden yellow Padauk flowers that remain on the branches do not wither and  turns into green Padauk seeds after a few days. The seeds are 5-7 cm in the center and have a small wing-shaped wing on the side. When dry, it turns brown. Padauk plants can be grow with Padauk seeds. Padauk tree is also grown as a shade tree by the side of the road. It is now being transformed into a plant call ‘Bonsai’. Large Padauk tree also preserve the natural environment. Depending on the Padauk flowers, honey bees and insects can survive. It also fixes nitrogen in the air. Padauk is perfect in both ability and beauty because from flowers to leaves, stems, bark and roots are very useful.

We should preserve the Padauk trees so that future generations can see them and not become extinct. This is because the Padauk trees are becoming scarce for a variety of reasons such as not planting new trees that have been harvested  after a few year of longevity. Nowadays, instead of real Padauk flowers, plastic Padauk flowers and paper Padauk flower are replaced, and worried that future generations will not see the glories Padauk flowers, if the Padauk flowers become extinct. In the past, Padauk flowers bloomed only one a year, but now they bloomed two to three times a year. This may be because of global warming and climate change. Living things and the earth are ecologically dependent on each other. We should grow the Padauk trees to prevent ecosystem damage. If the earth is not destroy ,the living trees (Padauk trees) will grow naturally. As a Myanmar citizen and as a human being, we should preserve the flowering plants (Padauk plants) that support the world and beautify Myanmar. As long as the earth exists, we should strive to have bright flower(golden yellow Padauk flowers).