Khejri tree is one of the most beloved trees of Indian subcontinent, with its distinctive leaves and small yellow flowers and the tree grows in arid, dry climate with tolerance to adverse weather.
Prosopis cineraria is the scientific name of this special tree which is intricately linked to the culture and traditions of Indian subcontinent since ancient times. Prosopis belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae.
Prosopis cineraria is the state tree of Rajasthan where it is known as khejri. This tree is known by various names in different parts of the country. In Western Uttar Pradesh it is known as chhonkara and inTelangana it is known as jammi. It is well-known in Madhya Pradesh& Maharashtra as Shami. Gujrati people of India knows the tree as khijro.
Its adaptability to arid & dry climatic conditions has imparted it ecological significance as the preserver of soil and biodiversity sustainability.
Khejri -the star of deserts all over the globe
Prosopis cineraria [khejri tree] is native to arid portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. It is cultivated in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is the national tree of the United Arab Emirates.
The story of human sacrifice for khejri tree & the chipco movement
In 1730 AD, the village of Khejarli near Jodhpur in Rajasthan witnessed a scene of violent & vehement environmental confrontation. Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar had ordered to cut khejri trees of the region to build a new palace there. A family resided in that region including Amrita Devi and her three young daughters gave their lives in an attempt to protect some khejri trees. This incident led to widespread protest and resentment and later turned into a massive movement in which 363 people were killed in the attempt to save the trees. In hindsight, this tragic incident compels us to have a look at the cultural significance of the tree in the history of Indian landscapes & vegetations. Khejri was part of their ethnic culture and lives rather than the environmental significance the tree connotes currently.
Later in the 1970s, the memory of this sacrifice led to the start of the Chipko movement in India which raise voice against cutting trees indiscriminately.
Kejri – A sacred linking with the myth
The Indian epic Mahabharata narrates the story of the Pandavas spent their thirteenth year of exile in disguise in the kingdom of Virata. Before entering the kingdom of Virata, they hung their celestial weapons on the khejri [Shami]tree for safekeeping for a year. When they returned after a year, they found their weapons safe in the branches of the Shami tree. It is narrated in the epic that before taking their weapons from the Shami tree, the Pandavas worshipped the tree and thanked it for keeping their weapons safe. It is curious to know that in Indian subcontinent every landscape and vegetation has a sacred linking with divinity as well as myths. Khejri is one of the such instances of trees being part of the culture and traditions of a spiritually inclined ancient society.
Khejri tree -Botanical description
The tree is found in extremely arid conditions, with rainfall as low as 15 cm (5.9 in) annually. Prosopis cineraria is a small tree, ranging in height from 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft). The leaves are bipinnate, with seven to fourteen leaflets on each of one to three pinnae. Branches are thorned along the internodes. Flowers are small and creamy-yellow and followed by seeds in pods.
The plant has tolerance for highly alkaline and saline environments and thrive in these localities also.
Kejri tree- A cultural link with Dussehra
The tree is revered by Hindu community in Inda and it is intricately connected with Dusshera festival. On the tenth day of the Dasara Festival the tree has some special significance.
In the Deccan region of India, as part of the tenth-day ritual of Dussehra, the marathas used to shoot arrows onto the crown of the khejri tree and gather the falling leaves into their turbans.
Mysore Dasara &Banni [ kejri] tree
According to historical references, Prosopis cineraria is known as the Banni mara, and holds a special place in the Mysore Dasara, where it’s worshipped on the Vijay-dashami day.
Conservation efforts for the Khejri Tree focus on promoting sustainable land management practices, afforestation initiatives, and the preservation of natural habitats. Protection and restoration of Khejri-dominated ecosystems contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and sustainable use of this resilient species.
Khejri – Ecological warrior against soil erosion and climate crisis
Currently the entire world is grappled with climate crisis as the aftereffect of global warming. At another end landslides and soil erosion are continuously morphing the landscape of our habitat and ecosystem. In the wake of these grave scenarios, Khejri tree due to its adaptability to adverse weather conditions and survival in arid regions helps to mitigate the impact of climate crisis and soil erosion indirectly. Therefore we can call the plant as an ecological warrior which preserve the ecosystem with its deep roots and leaves.
As the Chipco movement advocates for preservation of trees, let us Embrace the trees , stop cutting and felling them down as long as no direct imminent threat of trees falling and endanger human lives under torrential rain and tempests. The term “Chipko” means “to hug” or “to embrace”. Let us embrace this tree and many others of its kind into human culture as well as lives to preserve our ecosystem and delve into our roots to imbibe the good practices of ancient wisdom.
Written by Dr. Sanjana .P. Souparnika
References for further reading
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