On World Environment Day on Wednesday, the residents of Jalikhata carried out an unusual but significant activity. Instead of planting trees or holding awareness meeting, they celebrated birthday of a 207-year-old banyan tree.
Like any other birthday they cut a cake, however, huge in size under the tree. The banyan tree, which stands at Jalikhata village in lower Assam’s Pathsala area, remains a symbol of love of the local people for conservation.
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The five-squire-feet cake decorated with flowers on a big table was cut by top forest department official Hemkanta Talukdar. Talukdar dubbed the gesture of residents as a good sign for the entire society.
Locals residents believe that the banyan tree, which spread over four bighas of land, has completed 207 years and people from various nooks and corners of the State and even from outside have visited the place.
They feel that it is a property of the nation. The people of the locality also running a ‘Sivathan’ in the name of ‘Sivathan Santi Niketan Janaseva Ashram’ and every year Siva Chaturdashi is celebrated here where people come from long distances.
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They have also opened one banana garden in the place. The people claim that this tree is second in Asia and the biggest tree in the North-east.
The entire place was decorated with various slogans regarding protection of environment.