PM Modi gifts NBRI curated ‘Namoh 108 Lotus’ to Vietnam president

Lucknow: Among the gifts presented by PM Modi to Vietnam’s President To Lam in Delhi on Thursday was a freshly bloomed lotus of the rare ‘Namoh 108 Lotus’ variety which was developed by the scientists of the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow.The blooming lotus was packed in a fibre box and transported by road from Lucknow to the national capital. Along with it, two live plants carrying blooming flowers and a ‘Namoh Kit’ containing lotus seeds were also sent as gifts.The unique lotus is known for its 108 petals and year-round blooming.The lotus was among a set of symbolic gifts, including a brass sculpture of Buddha and a Banarasi silk sari, presented to President To Lam.Sources in NBRI said two special boxes were prepared with nutrient-rich sludge and clay-based soil, in which the live plants bearing Namoh blooms. The plants were transported by road in an air-conditioned SUV by a team of three NBRI scientists.The lotus variety is a clonal selection from germplasm traced back to Manipur and was developed in 2023 by the institute director AK Shasany and his team. It bears a large light pink flower measuring up to 10 inches in diameter. Unlike other varieties, its flowers bloom almost throughout the year, following NBRI’s technological intervention. Earlier, it was seasonal. The institute’s intervention ensured distinctiveness, stability and uniformity.The elite variety contains high levels of nutritional components such as amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, fatty acids, carbohydrates and minerals. It can be propagated through rhizome or stolon division as well as through seeds, and can be grown in ponds, tanks and pots.It was named ‘Namoh’ because of the lotus’s religious significance. The word was derived from the mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Namah’, while ‘108’ refers to the number of petals in this variety.Lotus is Vietnam’s national flowerLike India, lotus is also Vietnam’s national flower and symbolises Vietnamese culture, purity, resilience and spiritual awakening. Closely associated with Buddhism, it is revered for rising untainted from muddy waters and embodies the strength and perseverance of the Vietnamese spirit.