Tree marriage held at WB's Asansol to emphasize environmental protection

It became the talk of the town in Asangol when tree lover Narayan Das held a special ceremony for the marriage of two trees - banyan and fig - as per Hindu customs to emphasise the significance of environmental protection. Local residents said that the marriage of trees was new to them but it certainly sensitised them to the need for protecting the environment.

Asansol (West Bengal) : Earth is getting warmer with each passing day and is fast moving towards a dangerous situation. At a time when deforestation threatens balance in nature, Asansol's tree lover Narayan Das alias Balai came out with an innovative idea to underscore the importance of protecting the environment. He organised a special ceremony and married off a banyan tree with an aswatha (fig) tree in his own house with much fanfare.

After the wedding, those two trees will be formally planted in a designated place. Narayan Das did this to raise awareness of the impending danger of environmental degradation. The rainfall rate is decreasing in some places while heavy rains and natural calamities are turning life upside down in some other places. The reason for all this is massive deforestation, which is disturbing the balance in nature.

On Wednesday night, there was quite a commotion in Asansol's Mohishila Colony. Everyone was ready for the marriage of trees. Narayan Das is known as a tree lover in the area. In the house of Narayan Das, the banyan tree and aswatha tree were married according to Hindu ritual. As usual, Narayan Das called the priest and married off the trees.

The wedding was held after 8:45 pm on Wednesday. At exactly nine o'clock in the night, the wedding took place. Priest Sitangshu Bhattacharya said, "The way marriage is done according to Hindu scriptures, that is, Vasundhara, Nandimukh, residence, Sindurdan, Malabadal, dowry, farewell are all held in this marriage."

"Here the banyan tree is Narayan. So he is the groom. And the aswatha tree is Lakshmi. So she is the bride. The marriage is between the two trees. After the marriage, these two trees are placed in a certain place," the priest said.

Narayan Das, who is the originator of this event, said, "I see many trees being cut down for houses around. People are cutting trees without knowing anything. But the world is getting warmer with decreasing rainfall, but these are the results of cutting down trees." Babli Pal, a local resident said, "This incident is completely new. Although it feels very good. Narayan Babu is a tree lover in the area. This initiative in his house raised awareness among us."

On this day, the sound of the conch shell, and dhaak was not left out in the marriage between these two trees. After marriage, Narayan Das also fed the neighbours with sweets.