Glorious Amaltash

 

Delhi summer is not something that one looks forward to. Who would like temperatures in the 40s, blazing sun,  dust storms, hot dry winds. Come July/August and there is suffocating humidity. summers in Delhi would have been unbearable but for bright yellow Amaltash. If there is one thing which soothes my mind in summers, it is the sight of Amaltash. In scorching heat where everything seems to be drying up and burning, this tree is ready with its dangling yellow lobes which instantly catch your attention. Bright yellow flowers of this tree create a lovely contrasting combination with its green leaves. This beautiful sight starts with sporadic yellow lobes and before we realize, there is hardly any green left on the tree. When you are out for a morning walk or returning from a tiring day at work, Amaltash grips your mind with the yellow carpet of flowers on the ground, bunches of flowers swaying with the wind. Those yellow flowers leaving the tree and embracing earth are indeed an epitome of life cycle. 

Amaltash trees are seen in abundance in New Delhi. Most striking sight is at Amrita Shergil Marg. This road looks picture perfect with Amaltash in full bloom on both sides of the road. The road is as beautiful and colourful as paintings of Amrita Shergil. All residential colonies in New Delhi proudly carry Amaltash. When one is driving on Subramania Bharti Marg or in India Gate circle during summers, a canopy of yellow danglings and carpet of yellow flowers makes the drive . Whether you are walking or driving, you keep getting glimpses of the yellow blossom of this Indian Laburnum. One look at this blossom and we know what nature showers upon us. Whether we care for those trees or not, whether we observe their beauty or not, they blossom as if they are leading by example. They are showing humans to blossom and be happy irrespective of surroundings. These trees  are equally beautiful at night. Street lights add golden shade to the flowers and they indeed look like little golden chandeliers swaying to the tunes of a breeze. But for these Amaltash, summer would have indeed been unbearable.