.......a poem as lovely as a tree!

Joyce Kilmer summed it up best in "Trees"--beginning with Ï think I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree"and ending with "poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree"! The beauty and variety of trees never fail to amaze and soothe, as we re-discovered on yet another "tree walk" (will write about the earlier ones in the course of time!) at the Jahapannah  city forest (part of the ancient Ridge) led by a passionate and very knowledgeable tree expert, Ms.Kavita Prakash. In her easy, interactive manner, she led us, as always, along a route (which she always takes the trouble to check out and plan beforehand) with common (and not so common!) trees that we pass by, sometimes notice, but don't know anything about! She stops to point out special features, encourages us to touch and bond with the tree, gives a gist of its origin and uses...etc etc. At the beginning of the walk, each one is given a list of the trees that will be covered, along with a page reference to a classic work "Trees of  Delhi"by Pradeep Kishen (more of that later!) so that one can look up details. She also carries along "goodies"in the shape of a leaf/fruit/etc (which may not be visible in the season) to touch and feel.

Some of the trees we saw are natives of  the region, while others have come from far away lands, though non native trees tend to cause an imbalance in nature.
 We learnt about: the Lasora (the Bird Lime tree), Dhak (Parrot tree, self explanatory!), Katsagon, Ronjh, Cabbage palm, Saptaparni (named after its 7 leaves together), Buddha's coconut (popularly known as the Mad tree!), Subabool, Vilaiti Keekar, Maharukh (also known as the Maha neem), Khair, Siris (rattle pod!) Earpod wattle and of course, the Banyan. Kavita also pointed out trees not on the list....Mulberry, Footstool palm, Ritha and Kachnar, among others.

And here's some trivia gleaned from the walk!
The Dhak is the state tree of Jharkhand, where it grows in plenty. It is worshipped in Telengana, while there is a tree outside every Brahmin's house in Kerala!

The Katsagon has ringed rods, and protruding flower stalks to attract bats. Its wood is termite resistant.

The solitary Cabbage palm had been rescued from a barbed wire, thanks to Kavita who had noticed it earlier! It has a very fragrant smell, and so a great attraction for bees.

The Saptaparni is known as the blackboard tree, as its wood is used to make slates. It is also wrongly termed the Devil's tree (Shaitan ka jhar in Hindi) due to the frantic activity at night among its branches! Reason: the flowers bloom at night and attract insects, which in turn attract bats! It has an overbearing smell and large amounts of pollen, so very allergenic and unsuitable for those with respiratory problems.

The Banyan tree is the national tree of India, and signifies immortality and survival. Since it symbolises life and fertility, it is not cut, but worshipped by childless couples. It is also known as Akshay Vat, and was described by the ancient Chinese traveller to India, Huen Tsang.

It was a pleasant morning, and a couple of hours well spent in learning about and admiring the colors, texture (and sometimes, smells) of Nature.

If you are in Delhi, do join in a tree walk with Kavita (see details of her regular walks on https://www.facebook.com/TheSausageTreeNatureWalks/

or with Pradeep Kishen (rare, and generally through India Habitat Center).

Katsagon

Cabbage palm

Saptaparni

Banyan

Siris

............only God can make a tree!

Updates from Delhi

Back again after a long gap, mainly due to the constant reminders from my online friends! Delhi is a vibrant city, with all kinds of programs and activities, concerts and festivals, and it comes alive even more during this season. With our extreme climate, most months in the year are pretty hot and humid, so we make the most of this time, specially to go on guided "heritage" walks (which are held throughout the year) around a historical city dotted with monuments and shrines. I plan to post some photos every month of what's taking place, and to make a start, here are a few from November. The gaily bedecked "cycle rickshaws" (an old, and even now popular mode of transport in some parts of Delhi!) took us on a "Sufi trail" to little known shrines in the Nizamuddin area of New Delhi. In the backdrop is a monument called the "Sabz Burz", an enigmatic presence in the middle of swirling traffic.

The tour, which was part of the annual Nizamuddin mela, was followed by a magical, open air concert by a well known group called the Niazi brothers, against the backdrop of the historical "Chauasath Khamba". The Sufis believe music leads to the Divine, and it was easy to feel that. On the way home, we stopped at one of the numerous little shops which make Nizamuddin a favorite haunt! The hot "rotis" (Indian bread) served with mutton kebabs are a gourmet's delight! Here you see our rotis being prepared. The colorful folk dance was part of the Uttarakhand (a state in north India) festival at the Dilli Haat (you may remember photos from an old post)--a popular open air venue where thematic festivals are held. Next week, I will post some photos from recent heritage walks, so do come back! On another topic, you may remember my posts about the sterling work of artist-conservationist Sunitha Dhairyam. Well, she's now a member of "Artists for conservation"---do check out the link: http://www.natureartists.com/sunita_dhairyam.asp

Colorful crafts!

A glimpse of the hand crafted wares on sale at Dilli Haat...puppets, dolls and toys, hand woven carpets, items made of glass, beads and shells, hand painted panels, china ware, bamboo products, delicately embroidered Kashmiri "phirans" (like cloaks), toys....under the blue sky or colorful canopies!

Soak in the colors of India!

Dilli Haat (Dilli= Delhi and Haat= open air market place) is a popular haunt of Delhites and tourists--it's not only a shopper's and foodie's paradise, but an authentic glimpse of the colorful culture and traditions of India! Walk into the spacious open air forum with a welcome from folk dancers, taste the variety of Indian cuisine,(every state has an outlet to sell its specialities), buy hand made products from craftsmen who come from all over India (and sometimes demonstrate their skills)watch cultural programs, or simply soak in the dazzling colors of India!

A Merry Christmas!

A very "late" post! but better late than never! so some glimpses of Christmas in Delhi...at the Sacred Heart Cathedral...the photos say it all!










Due to the big crowds, midnight mass and the masses on Christmas day are held outdoors.
























And specially for my online friends--the (Japanese!) restaurant where we had Christmas lunch, and the Christmas corner at home!