NEW DELHI: WWF-India is organising an exhibition titled “Tryst with Trees – Punjab’s Sacred Heritage” at WWF-India Auditorium from 10th -12th August, 2006 at 172- B, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi.

Tryst with Trees is a pictorial documentation of sacred Sikh shrines named after native species of trees by Mr. D.S. Jaspal, Principal Secretary Information and Public Relations Punjab.

Smt. Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism & Culture will inaugurate the exhibition on 10th August, 2006 at 3.15 PM.  Capt. Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Punjab, will be the Chief Guest. The exhibition will also be open from 10 AM to 7 PM on August 11 (Friday) and August 12 (Saturday).

Though trees are repeatedly referred in various religious texts and ancient hymns which emphasize that man must coexist with his environment and respect the forests. In Sikhism some of its most sacred shrines are named after different native species of trees.

Jaspal has documented 48 Sikh shrines in India and Pakistan which are named after 17 species of trees (Gurudwara Tahli Sahib, Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Gurudwara Jand Sahib, Gurudwara Imli Sahib, Gurudwara Luhura Sahib, Gurudwara Phalahi  Sahib, Gurudwara Amb  Sahib etc.).

Tryst with Trees brings out through some very beautiful pictures the sanctity in which trees are held by devotees and the central role of nature in religious preaching and practices. The exhibition includes a series of photographs of the shrines, with the tree in the composition, accompanied by a brief description of the botanical features of the tree with its health status as well as the relationship between the species and the historical and religious background of the shrine. 

WWF-India is the country’s largest voluntary body in the field of conservation and has a network with a countrywide presence. It has taken on diverse activities in the field of nature protection – ranging from education and capacity building, to field projects in biodiversity, to enviro-legal action, to policy studies and advocacy, to areas such as religion and conservation.

A WWF-India spokesman said they acknowledges the close bond between Religion and Conservation, is sponsoring a series of exhibitions of Tryst with Trees, within India and abroad, starting with the exhibition at New Delhi.