Whether it’s our simple seasonal cycles or the complex orbits of planets, the hallmark of natural events is cyclicity. For centuries, biologists and mathematicians have studied these phenomena to try and predict their exact frequency. They have developed many hypotheses and numerical models to pinpoint the factors behind them, albeit with varying success. Some intriguing events that follow these patterns are cicada life cycles, but there are far more unpredictable events such as our southwest monsoon and the El Nino. A fabulous cyclical event that Mumbaikars are fortunate to experience this year is the flowering of the Karvi (Strobilanthes callosus) plant.

Karvi flowers are found mainly in the Western Ghats of India