Doomdooma: A centuries-old sacred tree in Doomdooma, Tinsukia district, revered by the local Adivasi community as the focal point of their annual Gram Puja and Notun Khava harvest festival, is facing imminent destruction due to the construction of a new bridge along National Highway-37.
The tree, located on the outskirts of the village, has traditionally hosted rituals where villagers offer prayers for protection, health, and harmony with nature. Residents say that its branches have been lopped and soil excavated to accommodate the bridge, leaving the roots exposed.
Eighty-six-year-old Ratiya Tanti, whose family has lived in the area for decades, expressed concern over the loss of the site, describing it as central to the community’s spiritual and cultural practices.
The Adivasi population of Greater Doomdooma traces its roots to labourers brought to Assam’s tea gardens by British planters in the 1880s, primarily from present-day Odisha. Traditions such as Gram Puja have been maintained over generations as an expression of collective identity. The ritual involves hoisting multi-coloured flags near the sacred tree and offering prayers to the sun, land, and nature.
Residents noted that resentment over the destruction is widespread but largely unvoiced. Many who pass the site now perform prayers in silence, reflecting a sense of cultural dislocation.
The bridge is part of a broader infrastructure development plan in the region, which includes railway expansion and electrification under the Northeast Frontier Railway. Villagers have reported that previous projects resulted in the felling of hundreds of trees and the disruption of farmlands and tea gardens.
Environmental and wildlife activists have raised concerns about the indiscriminate cutting of ancient trees, citing the ecological and cultural value of such sites. Devajit Moran, a regional wildlife activist, highlighted the loss of habitat for numerous species and urged the government to adopt conservation measures before further damage occurs.
As construction progresses, the Doomdooma community faces the challenge of balancing development with the preservation of faith, memory, and cultural heritage, raising broader questions about sustainable infrastructure planning in the region.