Uses of Khinna, Tiger’s milk Spruce (Sapium insigne) in Bandhan Rituals

Plant Myths and Traditions in Uttarakhand (Himalaya) -

By: Bhishma Kukreti, M.Sc. (Botany) (Mythology Research Scholar)

 Botanical names – Falconeria insignis, Sapium insigne

Garhwali name -- Khinna, खिन्न

 Hindi name – Khinna, Khirun

Sanskrit name –Makulakah

 Khinna or Sapium insigne is 10-12 feet height small tree with pointed leaves and exudes milky sap.

  Khinaa or Sapium insigne Myths

  

People use Khinaa or Sapium insigne twigs at the time of Bandhan rituals (बंधाण पूजा). Mostly, when the buffalo delivers the kid, before the owners start taking /using milk of buffalo, the owner performs Bandhan rituals (बंधाण पूजा). The ritual performers use dry Khinna twigs for touching milk and butter milk pots at the time of puja.  

      Traditional uses of Khinna, Sapium insigne

People use Khinaa mostly, for fencing purposes and as fuel too.

   People use Khinna tree for making Damru (Drum), floats, match boxes ( K. S. Negi and K.S. Kanwal, 2009,Indian journals of Traditional Knowledge).

 Negi and Kanwal reported that people of Uttarakhand use Khinaa leaves as fish toxics for fishing. .

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai 2017

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