The famous Parijat tree, believed to be over 4,000 years old, appears to be in danger. Located at Kintur village in UP’s Barabanki district, the Parijat tree is a much revered symbol among local residents, and said to have “magical” powers. Thousands of devotees throng Kintur every week to make offerings there and seek fulfillment of their wishes.
The Parijat tree, according to the “Harivansh Pur-aan”, is a wish-bearing tree that, besides Kintur, is said to be found only in heaven! A fair is held every Tue-sday, and people come from near and far to worship it.
The tree’s unique and most magical feature is that its branches don’t break or wither away; they simply shrink and disappear into the trunk.
“The tree is now in danger and its leaves are wilting. This was noticed a few years ago and several tea-ms of botanists — including two from overseas — came to examine the tree, and even did some chemical treatment, but this did not last long,” says chief priest Mahant Gopaldas, who presides over prayers at the tree.
Senior botanist T.P.S. Katiyar, who examined the tree recently, says its trunk is diseased with termites. “The main problem is people don’t allow you to touch the Parijat tree. They believe if you rip off a branch or its leaves, bad luck will fall on your house. The tree needs to be immediately treated for termites. This can be done by digging a pit all around the trunk, and treating it with chemicals. It will also have to be covered with black polythene and fumigated several times before it can be restored to health,” said Dr Katiyar.