Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tree burning for days retains green leaves in north India

Tree burning for days retains green leaves in north India

                                                                                     By Girish Kumar Dubey

In an unusual phenomenon, a neem (Margosa) tree in the holy town of Varanasi of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state continues to bear fresh green leaves despite a slow fire in its trunk since five days.

According to local media reports, residents of Varanasi first saw smoke coming from the tree-trunk five days ago.

The astonishing part is that the tree, believed to be hundreds of years old, is burning in the trunk, while its branches continue to bear new leaves.

"This tree is nearly 400 years old and is known by the name of Baba Harvansh, a Brahmin," said Ghanshyam, a local.

The residents said they have no clue how the fire took place, or why the tree has remained green.

"The interior of the trunk has caught fire. But the branches have fresh green leaves. We have still not understood why such a thing has happened," added Ghanshyam.

Hindus hold the neem tree sacred and there are many beliefs centred on this tree.

Thousand of ardent believers thronged the Varanasi town, to marvel at and worship the 'burning tree.'

But some residents took the slow fire in the tree as a bad omen, and called for a temple to be built.

"Yes, it's our wish to build a temple here. We are planning to collect money and build a temple for Harvansh Baba," said Jaglal.

The neem has been closely associated with the life and culture of people in the Indian sub-continent, and is used for its many medicinal qualities.

Intro

A neem (Margosa) tree in northern India continues bearing green leaves despite a fire in its trunk that has been burning for five days.

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 22, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. PEOPLE CROWDING AROUND A NEEM (MARGOSA) TREE

2. LEAVES BLOWING IN THE WIND

3. PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF TREE

4. TREE TRUNK

5. TREE

6. TRUNK BURNING

7. PEOPLE PRAYING

8. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) GHANSHYAM SINGH, A LOCAL, SAYING:

"This tree is nearly 400 years old and is known by the name of Baba Harvansh, a Brahmin."

9. PEOPLE WORSHIPPING THE TREE

10. A BOY WITH AN INCENSE STICK

11. EMBERS IN THE TRUNK

12. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) GHANSHYAM SINGH, A LOCAL, SAYING:

"The interior of the trunk has caught fire. But the branches have fresh green leaves. We have still not understood why such a thing has happened."

13. EMBERS BURNING THE TRUNK

14. PEOPLE PEEPING INSIDE THE TRUNK

15. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) JAGLAL, A LOCAL, SAYING:

"Yes, it's our wish to build a temple here. We are planning to collect money and build a temple for Harvansh Baba."

16. PEOPLE WORSHIPPING THE TREE

17. PEOPLE SEEKING BLESSINGS FROM TREE

18. MILK BEING POURED ON THE TREE

19. A WOMAN POURING WATER

20. PEOPLE SEEKING BLESSINGS FROM THE TREE

Original Script Date
May 23 08:28 (29 days ago)
Modified Script Date
May 23 08:28 (29 days ago)
Script Version
1
Headline
Tree burning for days retains green leaves in north India.
Services
Subcon Extra
Locations  VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
Dates Shot
MAY 22, 2011
Sound
NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH
Duration
2:25

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