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