Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib Gurdwara exhibits images of sacred trees

AMRITSAR: A permanent exhibition of images of sacred trees of Sikhism, documented by retired Indian IAS officer D S Jaspal in his book ‘Tryst with Trees - Punjab’s Sacred Heritage’, was inaugurated on Sunday at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, Pakistan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
While talking to TOI on Sunday, Jaspal said it was for the first time ever that a permanent exhibition had been put up in the main parikrama of the gurdwara.He said that the exhibition comprised of 21 panels, each having an image of the sacred tree along with a brief description of its botanical features, its health status as well as the relationship between the tree and the historical and religious background of the shrine.
The author has documented with photographs, 58 sacred Sikh shrines in India and Pakistan which are named after 19 species of trees, like Gurdwara Babe-di-Ber in Sialkot, Pakistan; Gurdwara Nim Sahib in Patiala; Gurdwara Tahli Sahib; Gurdwara Ritha Sahib; Gurdwara Amb Sahib; Gurdwara Imli Sahib; Gurdwara Pipli Sahib; Gurdwara Jand Sahib; Gurdwara Phalahi Sahib and others.
“Love and respect for nature and environment are common to every religious faith but, the naming of sacred shrines after trees is unique to the Sikh religion,” he said.
He also pointed out that during the time of Guru Nanak, Nankana Sahib and its environs were thickly forested with hardy species like the ‘Van’, ‘Jand’ and ‘Phalahi’ which were now almost extinct. Guru Nanak would often retreat into the forest for meditation and to be in the company of saints and seers, he said.
Jaspal said he had also held exhibitions in New York, Washington, Oslo, Delhi, Chandigarh and Lahore, and travelled extensively in India and Pakistan over a period of three years to compile the material and photographs.