The Centenarian #ThursdayTreeLove

The Old Tree 

Rooted in the past and waiting for the future.

This magnificent banyan tree has been on the property that my mother-in-law grew up in. Silent sentinel  for more than a hundred years, overlooked three bungalows and saw it evolve into a multi storey building . The  gardener’s wife who lived in a shack beneath its shade,  used to tell my mother in law stories of a snake with a man’s face ( naagpurush )living among its gnarled roots.

Till today my mother-in-law believes this tree is standing watch, keeping all of us safe in its spreading umbrella.

I’m participating in Parul’s initiative #ThursdayTreeLove. Do join in if you like with    the hashtag so that Parul can link up and share your posts with other bloggers.

Image for BellyBytes


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Comments

23 responses to “The Centenarian #ThursdayTreeLove”

  1. Vishal Bheeroo Avatar

    The anecdote and story behind the root standing strong serve as a metaphor that delights us. How endearing!

    Like

    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Thanks Vishal. I often wonder what stories trees and mountains have to tell.

      Like

  2. Vasantha Avatar

    Trees are always fascinating for me too. Loved your clicks and post. Keep sharing your tree love with us.

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Thanks Vasantha. Will do

      Like

  3. Dahlia Avatar

    Such a beautiful tree!

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Yes, it’s truly majestic with its ever increasing canopy

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  4. SHALINI BAISIWALA Avatar

    I love banyan trees with their gnarled roots and ever propogating limbs – I think its the true Tree of life in every sense!!

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      I read somewhere that the Ficus ( to which family the Banyan tree belongs) is the primary tree family and includes the Ficus religiosa ( peepul tree) in its spectrum

      Like

  5. Esha Avatar

    That’s a grand old tree, Sunita and like most of them, seems to have an interesting tale attached to it. The sight of old banyan trees always reminds me of wise words that elders often cite, of times past and days gone by. They’re beautiful vestiges of our past, aren’t they?!

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Yes, they are keepers of secrets and stories untold

      Like

  6. Parul Thakur Avatar

    Wow! I love that tree. I feel old trees have so many stories to tell. If only they could talk :)

    Thank you for sharing with us, Sunita. Is this in Mumbai?

    Like

    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Thanks Parul for your encouraging words. This tree is in Mumbai and one of the few that are still left standing the way our concrete jungle is expanding

      Like

  7. Amrita Avatar
    Amrita

    Banyan looks stunning.Like a King presiding over his court .Loved the story .

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  8. Shilpa Garg Avatar

    Wow! That’s a huge and a really old tree. It must have seen the world around it change so much and it’s still standing tall and graceful.

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      It had seen a lot . The freedom movement, independence, bombay becoming mumbai , the property changing , people coming and going …..

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  9. Obsessivemom Avatar

    There’s something comforting about tall, shady trees – the Nagpurush notwithstanding.

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      I haven’t seen the naagpurush but do feel the presence of a guardian angel

      Like

  10. Balaka Basu Avatar

    I don’t get to see them these days..Thanks for posting this pic…I just loved it.

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Thanks for dropping by! Glad you saw the picture on my blog

      Like

  11. […] The centenarian tree from Sunita’s MIL’s backyard […]

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  12. G Angela Avatar

    brought memories of my childhood, these trees were so very common, we used to hang on holding their roots and swing… I don’t see it anywhere now.. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Bellybytes Avatar

      Oh really? That’s surprising because even in my concrete jungle these trees are still around

      Like

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