Today is a special day in India.

Today is vat Purnima, celebrated across most of the country and is related with our next god gifted tree known as Banyan tree or (Vad). Banyan tree is the National tree of India.
Sanskrit Name Scientific Name Local Name Habitat Height Use Vat Vriksha Ficus Benghalensis Vat Vriksha, Vad, Bargad All over India and in many other countries Avg height up to 20-25 m. Multiple uses

Banyan tree has a historical importance in India. Today is the most important festival for the married women. Women pray for prosperity and longer life of the husband and wish to banyan tree to have the same husband in next 7 births. For this woman completes 7 rounds around banyan tree with wounding thread on the tree. Vat Purnima is celebrated on full moon day in the month of Jyeshta. The tradition has a story behind it. It honors the Savitri the legendary wife who rescued her husband's soul from the God of death Yama. It is a long story and I will post it later on if anybody wants it. The moral of the story is the importance of banyan tree. Banyan tree is a huge tree with very extensive branches. It is said that at one time more than 10, 000 people can sit under its shade at one time. It is an evergreen tree. One of the unique feature of the banyan tree is it has roots on its branches. These roots grow downward and try to reach on the ground. Once they reach can give support to the main tree and then spreads everywhere. Another unique feature of the banyan tree is that if we plant any part of the tree like leaves, branches or root part then a new tree will be grown from it. The tree has a very long life. One of the tree in Kolkata is of more than 250 years. Banyan tree provides a large amount of oxygen and it is an evergreen tree found in almost all country side of India. Banyan tree have small red colored fruits. These fruits are eaten by birds and seeds are distributed all over the region.

Banyan tree is extensively used for making bonsai. The roots of banyan which are hanging down the branches are used by children for playing swing. Banyan tree have medical importance as well. Its leaf, bark, seeds are used for the variety of disorders like dental, diarrhea, diabetes and urine disorders. Its leaf, roots are used in making many medicines in Aayurveda. Cultural importance Banyan tree is considered to be immortal. The tree is considered to be Kalpa Vriksha means the tree which completes all the wishes. It is considered that god is living in the banyan tree. God Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment in the Bodhgaya, India under the tree of Banyan. That tree is now known as Bodhi tree. Banyan tree is a part of coats of the Indonesia. It is the symbol of unity and power. We should have to plant Banyan trees as many possible as can. We can plant it on the sides of the roads as well as on the heaths. This tree is one of the important part of food chain and many birds, squirrels, ants, bats and human is depends upon the banyan tree.