The ‘devotional’ activities of the public are proving detrimental to the health of the legendary banyan tree at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra, Haryana, under which lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the message of Bhagavad Geeta to Arjuna. However, now the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI) is expected to take charge of directing the upkeep of the tree by suggesting measures to remove the factors causing stress to this holy tree which is experiencing decay.
Head of the institute’s Forest Pathology division, Dr Nirmal Sudhir Kumar Harsh, informed The Pioneer that the Kurukshetra development board was in touch with the institute and was expected to send a letter to the
institute, seeking its
expertise for ensuring proper health of this important banyan tree.
“The ground around the tree has been covered with marble tiles while fixtures have been installed on the tree itself for the light and sound show held regularly.
Apart from this, bells and threads have also been tied to the aerial prop roots of the tree. All these factors are causing stress to the tree. After receiving the letter from the Kurukshetra authority, we will direct measures to facilitate an improvement in the health of the tree,” he said.
Scientists from the institute inspected the tree earlier this year and concluded that the marble floor was preventing the tree from securing water and nutrition apart from which the various fixtures are also causing it stress. According to Harsh, the institute will take the local people into confidence and then work on execution of the measures needed to restore the tree to good health. The space around the tree needs to be opened up and the fixtures need to be removed to improve the condition of the tree, he added.
The FRI had played an instrumental role in restoring to health the Neem tree in Shirdi under which Sai Baba is believed to have sat. This tree was suffering from factors similar to those affecting the banyan in Jyotisar. The institute had also provided its expertise for treating the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and many trees at Ta Prohm temple complex in Cambodia.