Why Manipur Looks Like It’s Snowing Every Year When Silk Cotton Trees Open Their Pods |
In the valleys of Manipur, there is a seasonal moment when the air itself seems to come alive. Streets, fields and riverbanks are gently filled with drifting white fibres that float like whispers through the sky. People stop to look up, watching the motion pass overhead, wondering about where it comes from and where it goes.
This is the work of the silk cotton tree, known as Bombax ceiba, which grows across many parts of the region. It is a tall tree with bright red flowers that appear in the warmer months. When the flowers fade, they leave behind long pods that remain on the branches for weeks, slowly drying under the sun. Nothing........