Saving Sacred Trees
The MUSEUM OF TREES at Chandigarh has undertaken a project, first of its kind in the world, for conservation of the surviving sacred trees of Sikhism, by reproducing true genotypes of the parent through the technique of vegetative reproduction.
Though love and respect for nature and environment are common to every religious faith, the naming of sacred shrines after trees is unique to the Sikh religion.
In his pioneering work, “TRYST WITH TREES – Punjab’s Sacred Heritage” DS Jaspal has compiled a pictorial documentation of 59 sacred Sikh shrines in India and Pakistan that are named after 19 species of trees e.g. Gurudwara Tahli Sahib, Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Gurudwara Ritha Sahib, Gurudwara Imli Sahib etc.
At several shrines sacred trees have died on account of lack of knowledge and awareness about proper preservation practices, while in many shrines trees have been cut to make way for bigger gurudwara buildings.
Exhibitions
NANKANA SAHIB NOV 26, 2016
LAHORE SEP 7,
2011
NEW YORK OCT 21,
2010
CHANDIGARH NEW DELHI
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Sponsor/host An An Exhibition Of Sacred Trees Of Sikhism
The hymns of Guru Nanak enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, are replete with references to nature, environment, trees, vegetation, plants and animal life.
The 550th anniversary ofGuru Nanak is an appropriate time to create awareness about trees after which some of the most sacred Sikh shrines are named, so that a living sacred legacy can be preserved for future generations.
In many gurudwaras these sacred relics have been cut down to make way for marble clad buildings. In many others they have suffered premature death because of improper care and management.