The Parijaat, commonly known as Harsingar or Night-Flowering Jasmine, is a small, graceful tree celebrated for its delicate white flowers with distinctive orange centres. The flowers bloom during the night and gently fall to the ground by morning, creating a beautiful natural carpet. Its fragrance and appearance have made it a cherished ornamental tree, while its flowers provide resources for pollinators and contribute to garden biodiversity.
Parijaat's nightly flowering and morning surrender offer a profound reminder of beauty, humility, impermanence and the natural rhythm of life.
Parijaat has a special place in Indian mythology, devotional traditions and poetry. It is often associated with divine beauty, devotion, purity and the transient nature of life. The flowers are traditionally collected from the ground and offered in devotional practices rather than plucked from the tree. Different parts of the plant have also been used in traditional Indian practices, particularly in folk and Ayurvedic traditions.