Rudraksha Beads Now in South India, and There Is a Huge Demand for It!

Rudraksha beads are held very sacred by many in India and are believed to be the tears of Shiva. Buddhists also revere it as a sacred object and use it as prayer beads.  The rare "Elaeocarpus Ganitrus" trees in Gavi, which are typically only found in the foothills of the Himalayas, are now providing the Kerala Forest Development Corporation with a lucrative source of income (KFDC).  Gavi is a village in Pathanamthitta in Kerala and the Rudraksha seeds grown there are in great demand by spiritual seekers as well as tourists who buy them as souvenirs. According to Augustine, a botanist, rudraksha trees are primarily found in Nepal and regions in northern India like Uttar Pradesh. He said that they are rarely found in South India. Somebody who carried the seeds or saplings from North India may have planted the trees, which can be observed in the Gavi areas. From November to December, the tree begins to bloom. White flowers are produced, and by the end of January, fruits begin to appear. The fruits are gathered by KFDC employees, who then refine the seeds. It is primarily sold in the KFDC eco shop in Gavi and some other places too. As per a report in the TNIE, an official of KDFC explained that the fruit has a blue outer husk. It is soaked in water so that the soft blue husk comes out easily. Oil is then applied to the inner seed which is the rudraksha in order to make it smooth and fine. The Rudraksha is sold in packets of five and is priced at Rs 50.  It is unusual for the Rudraksha tree which is an endemic species limited to North India, is flourishing in a South Indian village.