Frangipani or Pansal Mal (temple
flowers) trees can be seen just about anywhere in Sri Lanka. They flower all
year round and come in a variety of shades, from pure white to deep red, to
dark purple. The fragrant flowers, fresh picked in bunches, are a favorite offering
at Buddhist temples, thus the name "pansal mal." The color of the
more abundant variety, yellow, resembles the color of the robes worn by the
Buddhist monks, again making it the favorite color of the devotees. The flowers
are used in making modern day fragrances, and when dried, can be used in a
potpourri with other flowers and spices. In Sri Lanka and India, garlands made
with fresh frangipani flowers are favorites when welcoming dignitaries to
various functions. Anybody who has been to Hawaii as part of a tourist group
will also recognize this as the flower used in making the Ôlei's" that
welcome the visitor to that island paradise.
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