Trees married off to conserve forests

In a ceremony resplendent with ritualistic chanting of hymns, joyous musical celebrations and a community feast, the villagers of Balia in eastern Orissa married off a Banyan tree to a Peepal tree. The Peepal tree, considered as groom, and the Banyan tree, the bride, were draped in a traditional marriage attire with a priest performing all the Hindu marriage rituals.