Practice of planting Bar-Peepal disappearing

By Kabiraj Ghimire,Dhankuta, Apr. 5: Kul Bahadur Basnet of Dhankuta's Chaubise Rural Municipality-5, Bajramai, planted the bar-peepal (banyan- sacred fig) trees in the name of his deceased father and mother about four decades ago.

He planted bar-peepal trees because he heard about planting those precious trees will help his deceased ancestors cross into the afterlife, Basnet said.

In the same way, a chautari (a resting place) was also built for the traveler to rest under the tree.

He said that until that time, the trend of planting bar-peepal in public places was very common but now the practice of planting such valuable trees in the village is on the wane. 

With increasing modernity, urbanisation and the expansion of transportation, the tradition of planting bar-peepal is disappearing, he said.

Not only in Bajramai, but recently, the practice of planting bar-peepal is disappearing everywhere. 

According to Hindu rites, planting bar-peepal is considered very good and fruitful. In Nepal, relatives of the deceased have started building chautari and rest houses and planting bar-peepal trees in memory of the deceased.

According to elders, when travelers come and lay heavy burdens and rest under the shadow of trees, the soul of the deceased will find peace and be remembered. 

"There was no means of transport at that time.  They have to travel on foot and there was a practice of planting bar-peepal trees for them to rest in the name of ancestors,” said Lokendra Bhandari, 78, of the rural municipality. He said the bar-peepal tree is also worshipped by god Bishnu.

It is considered important to use chautari to rest in summer and to organise village meetings. 

The practice of planting bar-peepal and making chautari, which is connected with religion and culture, is disappearing because it has stopped being planted in recent times. 

It is said that bar-peepal has not only a religious significance but also a historical significance. Patak Bahadur Thapa, Acting Head of the Division Forest Office in Dhankuta, informed that this is important because people take in more carbon dioxide and give more oxygen. 

It is also among the plants that live longer than other plants and gives more leaves. 

He says, "On the basis of atmospheric importance, the importance of bar-peepal is seen more now than before,” he said.