Saplings of Jyotisar's iconic banyan to be planted across country

The Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has got the saplings of the legendary banyan Tree at Jyotisar Tirtha in Kurukshetra prepared, and has planned to get these planted at major religious sites, and gift these to influential people across the country and abroad.

Every year a large number of tourists from across the country reach Kurukshetra to pay obeisance at the banyan Tree at Jyotisar Tirtha. Jyotisar is the birthplace of Gita, where Lord Krishna delivered the sermon of the Gita’ to Arjun during the Mahabharata war. Jyotisar is being promoted as a major tourist destination by the government and the Kurukshetra Development Board. While, a Mahabharata themed interpretation centre is being constructed here, the banyan tree is being promoted as the “brand ambassador” for Kurukshetra.

As per the information, one batch of saplings is ready. It will be planted at the major religious sites across the country and it will also be handed over to influential people so that these could be planted at important locations, including the Prime Minister House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Haryana Assembly and the Parliament.

Upender Singhal, honorary secretary of the KDB, said the KDB had handed over seeds of the tree to the state Forest Department so that some saplings could be prepared.

“We have already started using the pictures and the small model of the tree in the souvenirs being given to the dignitaries during various events, including the International Gita Mahotsav. People from across the country visit Jyotisar to pay obeisance at the legendary banyan tree, and they also express a desire to get a sapling of the holy tree so that they can get it planted. To respect the people’s sentiments and promote Jyotisar further, it was decided to get the saplings prepared. A batch of saplings is ready and soon these will be formally launched. It will be planted in other countries during the International Gita Mahotsav too. There is also a plan to sell the saplings on the counters established here in Kurukshetra at a later stage, so that general public can also get the saplings”, he added.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the International Gita Mahotsav in November this year, the KDB is likely to present the saplings to the PM as well.

Chairman of 48-kos Tirtha Monitoring Committee Madan Mohan Chhabra said “We had been working on this project for last several years, and attempts were made to prepare the saplings but it was not successful due to issues related to germination and unfavourable weather conditions. But now the saplings are ready and the project will help us in the branding and promotion of Gita, Jyotisar and Kurukshetra across the country and abroad. It will further help us in establishing Jyotisar as a centre of faith.”