Kachnar buds paint city white and purple
Residents of Islamabad are excited as Kachnar or Bauhinia variegate starts blooming and began decorating the city with shades of white and purple ahead of spring.
One housewife said she waits the whole year for spring season as Kachnar was one of the favorite vegetable of her family. She said, “I plucked Kachnar buds with my children in Kachnar Park, I-8 sector, that provided a fun activity for our family as hundreds of Kachnar plants were planted there.”
It is an ornamental showy tree whose buds are used for cuisine, pickle, and medication purposes. Kachnar trees are found everywhere in the capital as they grow naturally in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
She said, "We are excited as flowers of Kachnar start to bloom with the onset of spring season. I cook Kachnar with potatoes and mince and that makes a luscious and mouth-watering taste." Medical specialist Dr Talat Hussain highlighted the nutritional value of Kachnar saying, “Kachnar was full of essential nutrients like vitamin C, B, phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium. Hussain said, "Kachnar assists in mitigating diabetes symptoms and keep blood sugar levels in check as Kachnar is blessed with profuse anti-diabetic compounds that controls insulin mechanism in the body.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2022.