In what can be called a bizarre move, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for the pruning of fig trees along of the route of the Kanwar Yatra on Thursday.
Why? Because these trees are considered “inauspicious” by the devotees.
The decision, made during a high-level meeting with officials, is the first of its kind as no other chief minister prior to this has called for trimming green for religious sentiment.
Yes, sometimes it is necessary to prune trees to avoid them hitting power lines or growing over roads – but cutting off lush leaves and branches in a city where green cover is precious, purely on the basis of religious superstition, is something else entirely.
Will adequate care be taken for the health of the trees? Will it be seen to that the life-giving greenery is not hacked indiscriminately?
Given the sentiment with which the move is occurring – that these trees are inauspicious and bring bad luck – their well-being is far from assured.
Around 2 to 3 crore devotees participate in the Kanwar Yatra that commences sometime in the second week of July. Shiva devotees walk the length and the breadth of the country to collect the holy water of Ganga – but does this mean the trees need to suffer?
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
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