Palash: The Tree That Sets the Forest Aflame
The palash, also known as tesu or kesu in many regions, is easy to recognise the moment it blooms. Its brilliant orange-red flowers cover the entire tree in the month of Phalguna, around the arrival of spring, so vividly that it has long been called the 'flame of the forest'.
For generations, the sight of a palash tree in full bloom has served as a natural, seasonal signal that Holi is near, its fiery colour arriving almost like an invitation to the festival of colours itself.
The Palash Flower and the Colours of Holi
Before synthetic colours became common, the palash flower held a direct and cherished place in Holi tradition. Its blossoms were soaked in water to prepare a natural orange-red dye, which many communities used as their gulal for the festival.
Some villages and temple communities still keep this old custom alive, gathering palash flowers each spring to prepare colour in the traditional way, connecting today's celebration to a simpler, tree-given version of the same joy.
A Belief Held About Its Leaves
Many devotees hold a gentle belief about the palash leaf, which grows in a cluster of three leaflets joined at a single stalk. It is said that this trifoliate form is a natural reminder of the Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, present together within one simple leaf.
While this remains a matter of faith rather than scripture, it has added another layer of reverence to a tree already tied so closely to the season of renewal and celebration.
How the Palash Is Regarded in Worship
Beyond Holi, the palash finds a quiet place in wider devotional life:
- Its flowers are offered in some regional pujas during the spring season
- Its wood has traditionally been used as sacred fuel in havan and yajna in certain communities
- The tree is planted near temples and roadside shrines as a mark of auspiciousness
- Its blossoming each Phalguna is treated as a natural signal to prepare for Holi festivities
As with other sacred trees, devotees approach the palash with simple, seasonal reverence rather than elaborate ritual.
A Tree That Welcomes Spring with Devotion
The palash reminds devotees that faith is often found in nature's own rhythms, in the way a single tree can mark the turning of a season and the arrival of joy. Its fiery bloom each spring is, in its own quiet way, a yearly invitation to celebrate renewal with gratitude.
For many, the sight of a blooming palash carries the same warmth as the festival it announces, a reminder that devotion can be as simple as noticing beauty and giving thanks for it.
Quick Answers
Why is the palash tree called the 'flame of the forest'?+
The palash earns this name because its brilliant orange-red flowers cover the entire tree during Phalguna, making the tree appear as though it is ablaze against the spring landscape.
How is the palash tree connected to Holi?+
Before synthetic colours became common, palash flowers were traditionally soaked in water to prepare a natural orange-red dye that many communities used as their gulal for Holi, and some communities still follow this custom.
What belief do devotees hold about the palash leaf?+
Many devotees hold that the palash leaf's three joined leaflets are a gentle reminder of the Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, present together within a single leaf, a belief held as a matter of faith rather than scripture.
About the author
Pandit Mahesh Trivedi · Festival Traditions & Panchang
Pandit Mahesh leads the festival-date and Panchang content on Vandnaa. He cross-references multiple regional panchangs (Drik, Vaishnava, Bengali, Marathi) for every festival date published on the site.
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