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.

kewda-flowers-1a.png

As we go inside the layers become thinner and slender
kewda-flowers-1ab.png

Remove the petals of the flower
kewda-flowers-1ac.png

Cut the bottom of a petal with a pair of scissors
kewda-flowers-1ae.png

Cut elements that are dovetail shaped
kewda-flowers-1ag.png

Cut the pointed end at the top
kewda-flowers-1aj.png

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

mugalirekalu-jada-1a.png

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

mugalirekalu-jada-1ab.png

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

mugalirekalu-jada-1ac.png

The third element  being sewn
mugalirekalu-jada-1ac.png

mugalirekalu-jada-1ai.png

Decorate the gaps with artificial jewellery or fresh flowers.
mugalirekalu-jada-1aj.png
  
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 what ever petals I had.

mogalirekalu-jada-1a.png

mogalirekalu-jada-1ab.png
Mugalirekalu jada | kewda flowers decoration