Flower library · Pooja
Aparajita
Aparajita is the butterfly pea, a climbing vine with deep blue, single flowers shaped like a conch or an ear, which gives it the names shankhpushpi and gokarna in some regions. It is grown on fences and balconies across India and its flowers are offered in the worship of Shiva, Vishnu and the goddess, especially during Navratri and Durga Puja.
Clitoria ternatea · Aparajita · Gokarna · Shankhpushpi · Butterfly pea · Shankhupushpam
Season
Flowers most from the monsoon to early winter, roughly July–December; lighter flowering in summer
Keeps
Same day; about half a day loose
Colours
Deep blue, White, Light blue
Grown in
Grown in home gardens and on fences across India; it is sold in small quantities rather than in bulk flower markets
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How to pick fresh
Family Fabaceae
- aThe flower is a single, flat blue or white bloom about 4 cm across, with a pale yellow-white centre.
- bFresh flowers are fully coloured and crisp; they close and wilt the same day they open.
- cPick or buy flowers opened that morning; yesterday's flowers are limp and curled.
- dLeaves on the vine are compound, with five to seven small oval leaflets.
- eA double-petalled blue form is also grown and sold in some places.
02
Aparajita in pooja
Aparajita flowers are traditionally offered to Shiva and to Vishnu and Krishna, and the blue flower is associated with them in many homes. They are also offered to the goddess, particularly during Navratri and Durga Puja, and in parts of eastern and northern India Aparajita puja is performed on Vijayadashami.
Both blue and white flowers are used; some families and regions prefer one colour for a particular deity. The name shankhpushpi is used for this plant in some regions but also for other plants in others, so the local name alone does not always mean the same flower.
Because the flowers last less than a day, they are usually picked from a home vine on the morning of the puja or bought that morning.
Daily pooja flowers in Pune, by 7 am · from ₹1,600 a month →03
Keeping it fresh
- Collect or buy flowers early in the morning, when they have just opened.
- Keep them in a small bowl or leaf cup in a cool place until the puja.
- Refrigerating them briefly in a closed box helps for a few hours, not overnight.
- Flowers left after the puja can be dried in shade; dried flowers are used to colour tea in many homes.
04
Where it is used
- Offered at home shrines, especially to Shiva and Vishnu.
- Offered during Navratri and Durga Puja, and used in Aparajita puja on Vijayadashami in some regions.
- Dried flowers are used to make blue tea, a use that has grown in cities in recent years.
05
Aparajita in your city
Aparajita grows easily on Pune balconies and flowers well from the monsoon into winter.
In Delhi the vine flowers mainly in the monsoon and autumn; in summer heat flowers wilt within hours.
Aparajita is grown in many Indore homes and flowers freely after the rains.
The vine slows down in Chandigarh's cold winter, so flowers are mostly available from July to November.
Mumbai's warm, humid weather suits the vine and it flowers for much of the year.
Aparajita flowers through most of the year in Bangalore's mild climate.
Aparajita grows readily in Hyderabad; pick or buy flowers early before the day heats up.
In Ahmedabad's dry heat the flowers wilt by mid-morning, so use them soon after they arrive.
Aparajita is in high demand in Kolkata during Durga Puja and grows well in the humid weather.
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Questions
Which flower is offered to Lord Shiva?
Bel patra is the offering most associated with Shiva. Among flowers, aparajita, datura, aak (calotropis) and white flowers are traditionally offered in different regions. Customs vary, and some flowers such as ketaki are traditionally avoided.
Is aparajita the same as shankhpushpi?
In some regions Clitoria ternatea is called shankhpushpi, but the same name is also used for other plants, including Convolvulus species. The botanical name is the reliable way to tell them apart.
How long do aparajita flowers last?
Each flower lasts less than a day. They are best picked or bought early on the morning of the puja and kept cool until use.
Is white aparajita different from blue?
Both are the same species, Clitoria ternatea, with different flower colours. Some families prefer one colour for a particular deity or ritual.
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