This story is from July 22, 2019

Madurai: Villagers celebrate 100th birthday of 2 banyan trees

Trees tell tales, more so old banyan trees which are often steeped in folklore and legend. It was as much nostalgia as well as a desire to save their rich flora that prompted residents of Meenambalpuram, near Sellur in Madurai, to celebrate two 100-odd-year banyan trees.
Madurai: Villagers celebrate 100th birthday of 2 banyan trees
Festival organisers said that while one of the banyan trees had withered over the years, the growth of another one was curtailed by encroachments
MADURAI: Trees tell tales, more so old banyan trees which are often steeped in folklore and legend. It was as much nostalgia as well as a desire to save their rich flora that prompted residents of Meenambalpuram, near Sellur in Madurai, to celebrate two 100-odd-year banyan trees.
The trees having been a part of their lives since childhood, Sunday was an occasion for the residents to organise a unique festival to offer their "gratitude to the two trees" and, more important, to conserve them.
People from all walks of life, including politicians, environmentalists and professors, came together and shared stories and offered suggestions. Festival organisers said that while one of the banyan trees had withered over the years, the growth of another one was curtailed by encroachments. "Now that most of the encroachments are cleared, care should be given so that the banyan trees can grow and spread again. Hopefully, festivals like this can initiate a positive change," said R Abu Bucker, one of the organisers. The organisers said the Sellur tank, on the banks of which the banyan trees stand, should be desilted.
It was a trip down memory lane for elder citizens as they fondly remembered how the two banyan trees used to be spread across the length of the pathway long ago and had been an ideal habitat for a large variety of birds. C Gurusamy, 74, recalls that during his childhood he and his friends used to cling on to the aerial roots and dive into the Sellur tank which was then filled with water. "It was a sort of competition among us on who could dive the farthest. Over time, the aerial roots and prop roots of the tree vanished when roads were widened and buildings sprung up around the trees," he said.
S Arjunan, a sexagenarian, said that with the aerial and prop roots having been felled regularly, the locality lost a very good hangout spot. "Back then, when I was a youth, any meeting would happen only under the shade of the two banyan trees, and for people of all age groups it used to be an ideal hangout spot. Passers-by - predominantly farmers - could be seen taking rest in its shade," he said. Some other residents said that around a decade or two ago, the whole of Meenambalpuram would be echoing with the sound of bats which used to be the most frequent visitors to the banyan trees. They said until 20 years ago, there were at least two more such trees in the locality.
Professor and head of the department of communication at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) S Nagarathinam, who was one of the chief guests at the festival, said the officials concerned should take immediate action to ensure the two trees were saved and clear the surrounding area so that the trees' growth was not hindered. "Urban green spaces should not mean only parks. There is no other tree like the banyan when it comes to providing shade. Just as parks are promoted, saving banyan trees should also be encouraged," he said.
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