SACRED TREES OF RAIPUR CITY

Tiwari Shikha, Acharya Vaibhav

Abstract: Among the tribal dwellers of Chhattisgarh the veneration of trees and forests still occupies an important and cardinal part of their daily life. Once recognized as the abode of a local deity, trees are not allowed to be harmed or felled except for religious purposes such as for the repairing of a temple or shrine: sanctification is based on religious sentiments and cultural values, and also linked to ecology. The genesis of sanctification of trees can be traced to the dependence of the tribal forest dwellers on the trees and forests for sustenance, moreover upon the fact that the tribal people depend upon the trees even for their basic requirements and survival. Sacred trees are protected because people fear the anger of the gods that have their abode in them. People also worship trees because they hope that the power and fertility contained in them may be transferred into human life and sacred groves are often protected by local communities. Mostly sacred groves protect important water bodies that deliver the important water resource to the local communities. Chhattisgarh is twenty seventh state of India with its Capital in Raipur. It has dense forest cover and many tribes reside in this region. The tribal communities living in the area believe that nature is sacred and needs to be worshipped. Nature and natural phenomena occupy the central place in their rituals and festivals. Rituals are often synchronised with blossoming of flowers of forest trees. These rituals reveal intimate sense of harmony that exists between nature and tribal community. Raipur is the capital ,and people of all believes faith culture and tribes reside here. During the survey( Jan 2015 to Jan 2016) 28 species of scared trees ,were found in the Raipur city. different cultures.Ficus bengalensis krishanchur present in front of DoodhaDhari Math ,forest nursery of Godi and recently planted in Pt.R.S.S.U campus sacred to the Hindus. Santaum album is found in the study are, is a scared tree .Araucaria sp., a scared plant of Christians, is found in many places .Ginkgo biloba living fossil (gymnosper) a scared plant of the Buddhist.Sima rouba glauca sp., worshipped by theArt Of Living community. Diospyros melanoxylon is the scared tree of Gond Tribe. Cassia fistula and Butea monosperma are considered sacred . Butea monosperma are of significance in the festival of Holi and Mahashivratri .Twigs of Azadirachata indica are placed outside the houses and vechicles, on day of Hareli festival is celebrated by the locals and offered to The Goddess .considered as an incarnation of Goddess. Emblica officinalis is worshiped by the Hindus on Amla Navami celebrated in Kartik month of Hindu Calendar. These practices lead to religious and sentimental attachment towards trees, which results in-situ conservation of trees and biodiversity. Most of the plant recorded during the survey are in cultivated conditions( Home gardens,Roadside plantation premises of temples,Public gardens Rajiv Gandhi Smiriti van,Jungle safari Goverment offices ,Institutions and Forest nurseries).However, traditional values among others are decreasing due to a growth in urbanisation that is leading to the degradation and disappearance of sacred sites.