In West Bengal, Wedding Between Two Trees Conducted To Reduce Global Warming

Beldanga municipality in West Bengal is in the headlines after the locals living here performed the wedding of a Banyan and Pakur tree to decrease global warming. According to Local 18 Bengal, the 2 trees were also dressed as bride and groom in the wedding. The natives flocked to the temple premises of Dolua Dakshinpara of Beldanga police station to see the wedding. Around 3000 residents including men, women children and even their relatives, dressed in the finest of their clothes, attended the wedding. Besides these people, many other individuals from places far and wide arrived at this place to be a part of the wedding ceremonies. An elaborate feast preparation was also done for the guests. Rice and lentil porridge (called khichuri or khichdi in Hindi) and pies were served to all present at the wedding.

Besides the delicacies, arrangements were also made for the songs and dances of the guests. The wedding rituals of the Banyan trees, which is one of the customs here, were conducted as per the Hindu scriptures. Two residents named Palash Mandal and Utpal Mandal blessed the tree couple. The wedding ceremony was performed in a grandiose manner so that more people could be attracted to the ceremony. Entrepreneurs claimed that this would increase awareness regarding the trees amongst the people.

Villagers revealed more details regarding this unique wedding ceremony. One of them said that the 6th tree had been sold. Therefore, he said further, that the locals planted another tree next to it and then arranged for the wedding. The native added that everything is done according to the rules. Purohit, one of the locals in the village said, according to Hindu scriptures, if the banyan and pakur trees are planted side by side, they have to get married. Now two other Banyan and Pakur trees have also been planted beside them. Pakur or Golden Rumph’s fig (Ficus rumphii, family: Moraceae) is a large and beautiful tree from the Fig family with a spreading crown.

In a similar case, a wedding between Banyan and Peepal trees was conducted in the Raiganj district after the natives here suffered water scarcity.