Sharat, the Bengali autumn, is called the queen of seasons, because nature dresses in bright colours at this time. White kash flowers line both banks of the rivers, and several other flowers bloom in autumn too, turning the countryside into a kingdom of flowers. Their scent drifts through homes and courtyards.

Kash is the main flower of autumn. Seeing it, we know that Sharat has arrived; it is the symbol of the season's coming. Kash is a grass, and it bears white and silvery flowers.

Hibiscus (joba) blooms all year, but its main flowering season is autumn. The bright red flower is striking to look at, with a long stalk in the middle of its round, oval red petals and pollen at the tip.

Bakul is one of the most graceful flowers, with a sweet fragrance. Bakul garlands are a must at many occasions. Because the flowers are small, they are compared with stars.

Shiuli blooms on autumn nights and falls at dawn, its scent spreading in the last hours of the night. The small flower is white, somewhat like jasmine, with a saffron-coloured stalk at its centre. It is also called shefali.

Dolonchapa sways in the autumn breeze, arriving wrapped in a soft, white silky sheet. Its flowers come out in clusters and are a pleasure to see once they open.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.