Trees and their linkage with Sikhism: an exhibition

Chandigarh, Apr 27 (UNI) Sikhism is unique among the world's religions, as some of its most sacred shrines are hallowed by their association with the names of native species of trees.

This unique link between enviornment and Sikh shrines was aptly displayed in an exhibition titled 'Tryst with Trees: Punjab's Sacred Heritage' that was inaugurated at the Lake Club here today by Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Vijender Jain.

'Tryst with Trees' is a pictorial documentation of sacred Sikh shrines named after native species of trees, documented through his camera by 1976-IAS batch officer of the Punjab cadre, D S Jaspal.

After travelling across India and Pakistan, Mr Jaspal, has revived the sacred link between Sikh shrines and the 'divine' trees.

In all, the exhibition shows pictorial documentation of 17 species of trees that have 48 Sikh shrines named after them.

Sponsored by the Indian chapter of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the exhibition is the first of the series in this part of the region, WWF-India has already expressed its desire to exhibit the pictorial representation across the country.

''Nature and Sikhism are closely related'', Mr Jaspal said while pointing to the Dukh Bhajani Beri (jujube tree) at the Golden Temple at Amritsar and the 'ber' (jujube tree) tree in the Golden Temple complex associated with Baba Buddha, the first Head Priest of the sacred Sikh shrine.

While documenting the association of trees with Sikhism, Mr Jaspal came across certain disturbing facts. He found that at certain places trees were chopped off for the expansion of gurdwaras.

At Gurdwara Santokhsar near the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the sacred 'Tahli' (sesham), associated with fourth Guru Ram Dass, was axed to make way for a building. At Imli Sahib Gurdwara in Chamkaur Sahib, the tamarind tree was cut down in 2005 for erecting a marble structure.

Through the exhibition, Jaspal not only wishes to bring to the foreground the Sikh heritage and its tryst with trees, but also to drive home the message of preserving the trees that have 'grown on us religiously'.

The photographic series include photographs of the shrines, with the tree in the composition, accompanied by a description of the botanical features of the tree, with its health status and the relationship between the species and the historical and religious background of the shrine.

UNI