Page 12 - Young Intach Jan-March 2022.indd

DID YOU KNOW
LIFE-GIVER COCONUT In the 1920s an alabaster box

fi lled with sandalwood paste was
The state tree of Kerala, the coconut tree is also known found in Banaras which dated
as kalpavriksham as almost all parts of the tree are used back to 400 CE!
SACRED
in one form or the other.
Krishna Sunil, Class 9B, Angappa Educational Trust Senior Secondary
School, Coimbatore
Botanical Name: Cocos nucifera SANDALWOOD
Common Name: Nariyal (Hindi), Thennai (Tamil),
Indian Sandalwood is native to southern India and
Narikela (Sanskrit), Naarlu (Konkani)
Southeast Asia and is considered sacred in many
KALPAVRIKSHAM STORY religions. Its wood is heavy, highly aromatic and
yellow in colour.
A legend of Kerala is that the coconut was originally a
Hardik, Class 8 G, Bhavan's SL Public School,
deva vriksha (divine tree) which was brought to earth by
Amritsar; Bora Deekshita, Class 8, Olivet
Lord Parashuram for the prosperity of the Malabar Coast. School, Krishna Nagar, Vishakapatnam
Muslims in South India have the custom of throwing Botanical Name: Santalum
pieces of coconut over the bridegroom's head during album
marriages to keep away evil spirits. Indian Christians Common Name: Chandan
carry crosses made out of coconut leaves/fronds on Palm (Hindi), Bhadrasri (Telugu),
Sunday during Lent. Chandana (Sanskrit), Shwetchandan
Sreedevi Suresh 9, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Palakkad (Bengali) Illustration by Bora Deekshita, Class 8, Olivet
School, Krishna Nagar, Vishakapatnam
FRAGRANT STORY

It is believed that Goddess Parvati moulded Lord
Ganesha out of a sandalwood paste. The paste made
from sandalwood is used to decorate the icons of deities,
and applied on the foreheads of devotees during prayer
ceremonies. Buddhists and Christians make use of its
powerful scent in their ceremonies and Parsis use its
wood in their fi re temple.
It is often used in Ayurveda because of cooling and a
strong fragrance. There is a central nerve or node of nerves
on the forehead and a mark of cooling sandalwood helps.
Mahamathi T, Class 10B, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Matriculation Hr. Sec.
School, Coimbatore; Sanika Mudgil, Class 9, MMIS Ambala; Vaishnavi Singh
Panwar, Class 11E, Subodh Public School, Jaipur; Karuna Panwar, Class 8C,
DAV Public School, Faridabad
Activity: Co-operative Coconut
Every part of the coconut tree is used including its ACTIVITY: HOME-MADE SOAP
fruit, leaves, bark, and copra to make diff erent items.
Match the coconut parts with its uses! Let’s make our own sandalwood and coconut soap at
home using the melt and pour technique!
1. Leaves A. Ropes, mats, and brooms
Step 1: For soap base use coconut milk/aloe vera/honey.
2. Oil B. Desserts and savoury dishes
Step 2: Freeze this base and then cut into small cubes.
3. Coir C. Thatched roofs and ritual dress
Step 3: Place a container with the cubes in a boiling water
4. Milk D. Dye and mouthwash
saucepan and melt the cubes.
5. Roots E. Cooking, also put on body and hair
Step 4: Add sandalwood scent/powder along with orange peel.
Step 5: Mix the ingredients and pour it into silicone moulds and
Illustration by Krishna Sunil,
Class 9B, Angappa Educational let it sit for 7-8 hours.
Trust Senior Secondary School,
Coimbatore

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