Thazhampoo flower jadai thalam poo jadai

Also called fragrant screw pine in English, mugali puvvu in Telugu (the petals are called mugalirekalu )
In Hindi and Marathi it is kewdais one of the most fascinating and fragrant flowers in nature.

 It is regularly used in hair style decoration for Navratri kanya.  When we were young it was used quite often for bridal braid decoration as also for festivals and other functions.

Traditional bridal decoration | Navratri decoration | Varalakshmi Nombu decorations

Remove the outer thorny layers.  Careful because they can prick.

As we go inside the layers become thinner and slender

Remove the petals of the flower

Cut the bottom of a petal with a pair of scissors

Cut elements that are dovetail shaped

Cut the pointed end at the top

A collection of petals cut is ready as shown in the image below

Sew with a fine needle and thread because the petals  are delicate and can  tear.

Sew both sides so that the petal  elements hold on to the braid

The third element  being sewn

Decorate the gaps with artificial jewellery or fresh flowers.

  

Another type of decoration is by keeping the petals cut in a dovetail formation one above the other and stitching them as shown in the picture.   We should cut the first petal and use it as a template so that the width is maintained uniformly in all the petals.  Also, the angle formed should be equal on both sides so that the petals merge easily when placed one above the other.  This method is the most traditional method.  In this the plaits are not visible, and the entire length is covered with mogalirekalu jada.

I have shown a demonstration only because after Varalaxmi Pooja the petals started withering and made this hair decoration with whatever petals I had.

Mugalirekalu jada | kewda flowers decoration