Ganesh Chaturthi: 21 Sacred Leaves With Medicinal Value Offered to Bappa Every Year – News18

Many across the country are currently making arrangements to welcome Lord Ganesh as pandals are being constructed and finishing touches to the Idols of the Lord are being given as the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is just round the corner. A lot of sacred  Patras (leaves) having medicinal value has played a key role while performing puja of the Lord on the Chaturthi (fourth) day of the festival. The Patras are also immersed into the water bodies along with the idol after the puja gets over and is believed to rejuvenate the flora and fauna in the water bodies.

Each of them have their own significance and here’s a look at their details:

1. Machi Patra: The leaves belong to the flowering plants of the genus Chrysanthemum that is a part of the Asteraceae family. The leaves have a particular fragrance.
2. Brihati Patra: It is known as Poison Berry and the size of the leaves are of two types which look like leaves of the Brinjal plant. The plant consists of round shaped fruits with white stripes.
3. Bilva Patra: It is called Bengal Quince, where three leaves appear as one leaf. Bilva Patraalu (Bilva leaves) are considered and used as offerings to Lord Shiva and Goddess Mahalakshmi.
4. Durva Patra: This is called as Bahama Grass and is available in two colours – black and white. It is said that Lord Ganesha is very fond of the Durva Patra.
5. Datura Patra: It is called as Thorn Apple plant and belongs to the Aubergine family. The fruits consist of thorns and flowers that are purple in colour.
6. Ber Patra: It is also known as Jujube and the plant is of three types.
7. Apamarga Patra: It is called Pricky Chaff Flower plant and the leaves are in round shape. It also consists of seeds and thorns.
8. Tulasi Patra: It is known as Holy Basil plant and the leaves will be used while worshipping gods and goddesses.
9. Chuta Patra: The Mango tree leaves have special place in the Hindu tradition and culture.
10. Karaveera Patra or Kaner Patra:  It belongs to the Indian Oleander plant and the flowers are of in white, yellow and red colours. The flowers have a special place in the Hindu spiritual practices.
11. Vishnukanta Patra: It belongs to Butterfly Pea plant and the plant with blue colour flowers is called Vishnukanta plant.
12. Damidi Patra: The leaves are of the Pomegranate tree and devotees offer the Pomegranate fruit to Goddess Amba.
13. Devdar Patra: It is a part of the Himalayan Cedar tree where it is believed that gods and goddesses are very fond of the Devdar Patra. The trees grow tall and the wood will be used to sculpt idols of the gods and goddesses.
14. Marua Patra: It belongs to Marjoram plant and is also called Dhavanam and Maruvam. The specialty of the leaves is that they have a fragrance even though the leaves are dried.
15. Sindoor Patra: It belongs to Achiote Tree.
16. Jaaji Patra: It belongs to the Jasmine plant.
17. Gandali Patra: It is also known as Latha Durva and the creeping plant grows like a grass on the land.
18. Shami Patra: It grows on the Shami or Khejri Tree and devotees perform special pujas to the tree during the festival of Dusshera.
19. Ashwatha Patra: It belongs to the Peepal tree and the people from the Hindu community perform pujas dedicated to the tree.
20. Arjuna Patra: This leaf belongs to the White Marudah tree. The leaves look similar to that of the Banyan Tree leaves.
21. Arka Patra: It belongs to Sodom Apple plant and it is believed that performing pujas to the Idol of Lord Ganesha built with Sodom Apple Plant will fulfil the wishes of the devotees.