KENDRAPARA: Amid beating of drums and singing, villagers of Jamadhar panchayat in the district married off two trees in a specially organised wedding ceremony on Friday. As the banyan tree’s branches got entwined with that of a peepal tree, superstitious villagers and priests uttered ‘slokas’ and declared them as a “couple”.
“The tradition of marrying a peepal tree with banyan tree is a very old practice. I have heard of it, but I am watching it for the first time. We are happy that it was organised. It will bring peace and good luck to the village,” said Gouranga Charan Das, a villager.
Villagers split into two groups representing the bride and the groom for the ceremony. Some represented the peepal tree whereas others represented banyan during the marriage, said Gopabandhu Das, who acted as father of peepal tree. Sudhir Das of the village acted as father of banyan tree in the marriage.
The wedding was performed in the village temple amid recitation of Sanskirt ‘slokas’ by the priest. Hundreds of people from the neighbourhood attended the marriage ceremony and extended support for the cause of preserving greenery in their areas.
A 54-year-old villager Banambar Sahoo said, “Arranging marriage of banyan and peepal trees is one way of pleasing the God so that a barren woman can beget a child. But we organised this unique marriage to create awareness among the people on conserving the trees.”
Banyan and peepal trees are considered as Lord Narayan and Goddess Laxmi by the people. Interestingly, many villagers organise the marriage with fanfare and rituals including procession, feast and other traditions, said Susama Das, Sarapanch of Jamadhar gram panchayat.