Flower library · Pooja
Bel patra
Bel patra are the leaves of the bael tree (Aegle marmelos), known as bilva in Sanskrit. Each leaf has three leaflets on one stalk, and it is the leaf most closely tied to the worship of Shiva. It is used every Monday, through the month of Shravan and on Mahashivratri, and it is sold in small bunches outside most Shiva temples.
Aegle marmelos (leaves) · Bel · Bilva patra · Bilva · Bael leaves
Season
Available through the year; the tree sheds partly in late winter and spring, when good leaves are fewer, and new flush comes before the monsoon
Keeps
2–3 days loose; up to 5 days wrapped and refrigerated
Colours
Dark green
Grown in
The bael tree grows across most of India and is common near temples, in villages and along roadsides, especially in the north, central India and the east
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How to pick fresh
Family Rutaceae
- aA proper bel patra has three leaflets joined at one stalk, the middle one larger and on a longer stalk.
- bThe leaflets should be whole, not torn, cut or eaten by insects.
- cFresh leaves are a deep, glossy green and stiff; yellowing, spots or limp leaves are old.
- dCrush a corner and fresh bel gives a distinct citrus-like smell.
- eFive-leaflet bel leaves occasionally appear and are valued in some families, but three is the usual form.
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Bel patra in pooja
Bel patra is traditionally offered to Shiva, placed on the Shiva linga with the smooth upper side of the leaf facing upward and the stalk towards the offerer in many households. The three leaflets are widely described in tradition as representing the three eyes of Shiva or the trinity, and the leaf is considered one of Shiva's favourite offerings.
Demand is highest on Mondays, through the month of Shravan and on Mahashivratri. The number of leaves offered varies: one leaf, three, five, eleven or 108 are all common, depending on the ritual and the family's practice.
Some families follow a tradition of not plucking bel leaves on certain days, such as on Mondays, amavasya or sankranti, and pluck them the day before instead. In some traditions a bel leaf that is whole and clean may be washed and offered again. Practice varies, and families follow their own custom.
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Keeping it fresh
- Wrap the leaves in a damp cloth or damp newspaper and keep them in the fridge.
- Do not wash and store them wet in a closed box; they turn black at the edges.
- Keep the leaf and stalk together; a leaflet that falls off is usually not offered.
- Many families wash bel leaves just before offering.
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Where it is used
- Offered to Shiva at home shrines and temples, especially on Mondays.
- Used in large numbers during Shravan and on Mahashivratri.
- Used in rudrabhishek and other Shiva rituals along with water and milk.
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Bel patra in your city
Bel is easy to find in Pune, and demand rises through Shravan; leaves keep three days wrapped in the fridge.
Delhi's dry heat curls bel leaves within a day in summer, so keep them wrapped in damp cloth in the fridge.
Bael trees are common around Indore and supply is steady; keep leaves refrigerated in the hot months.
Bel is available in Chandigarh through the year, with thinner supply in late winter.
Mumbai's humidity can blacken stored bel, so wrap it in dry paper inside a cloth rather than keeping it wet.
Bangalore's mild climate keeps bel leaves in good condition for two to three days.
Bel is sold outside most temples in Hyderabad; keep leaves cool in April and May.
Ahmedabad's dry heat dries bel quickly, so keep the leaves wrapped and refrigerated.
Bel is widely available in Kolkata; in the humid months, avoid storing leaves wet.
06
Get it delivered
Growing it yourself? See Bael in the plant library.
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Questions
How many bel patra leaves are offered to Lord Shiva?
It varies by ritual and family. One, three, five, eleven, 21 or 108 leaves are all common. Many people offer a single whole leaf with three leaflets on ordinary days and more on Mondays, in Shravan and on Mahashivratri.
Which leaf is offered to Lord Shiva?
Bel patra, the three-leaflet leaf of the bael tree, is the leaf most traditionally offered to Shiva. Datura and aak flowers are also offered in some traditions.
On which days should bel patra not be plucked?
Some families avoid plucking bel leaves on Mondays, amavasya, sankranti and certain other days, and pluck them a day earlier. This is a custom that varies by family and region.
How to keep bel patra fresh?
Wrap the leaves in a damp cloth or newspaper and keep them in the fridge. They keep two to three days this way. Avoid sealing wet leaves in a box, which blackens them.
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