Exhibition on ‘sacred trees’ at Nankana Sahib

GS Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 3

In a first, a permanent exhibition of sacred trees of Sikhism has started at Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, coinciding with the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The source of the exhibition is a book, “Tryst with Trees — Punjab’s Sacred Heritage”, documented by retired civil servant DS Jaspal. In his pictorial book, Jaspal has documented at least 58 Sikh shrines named after 19 species of trees.

Talking to The Tribune, Jaspal said the Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan had started the exhibition of rare images of sacred trees at the Nankana Sahib shrine.

In the exhibition, 21 panels have been displayed. Each panel displays an image of a sacred tree, along with its botanical features, its health status as well as relationship between the tree and historical and religious background of the shrine.

“The panels were put up on October 31 after the completion of painting and repair work at the shrine. It will be a permanent feature of the shrine and a source of learning for visitors,” he said.

During the time of Guru Nanak, Nankana Sahib and its environs were thickly forested with hardy species like the ‘Van’, ‘Jand’, ‘Phalahi’, ‘Pilu’, which are now almost extinct. Guru Nanak would often retreat into the forest for days together for meditation and to be in the company of saints and seers.

Although love and respect for nature and environment are common to every religious faith, the naming of sacred shrines after trees is a unique concept of the Sikhism.

Jaspal’s book has documented such Sikh shrines in India and Pakistan. Pakistan’s Environment Minister Malik Amin Aslam Khan mooted the idea of the exhibition. Later, Jaspal prepared exhibition panels to mark the occasion.

“These sacred trees are nothing short of a living legacy. The trees deserve the highest respect, reverence and care by the community. I believe that the exhibition will not only send a message of peace and religious harmony, but also reflect concern for nature and environment,” he said.