A nearly two-century-old banyan tree, standing tall near the revered Kalyaneshwari Kali Temple at East Kunjaban Panchayat under Kalyanpur in Tripura, was set ablaze by a lightning strike on Monday afternoon. The incident stirred up a whirlwind of emotions and debates among the local populace.
After noticing the fire, locals tried to bring the fire under control. Unable to douse the flames themselves, the locals called upon the fire department. The firefighters battled the blaze for nearly half an hour before finally bringing it under control.
The Kalyaneshwari Kali Temple, from which Kalyanpur derives its name, was established during the reign of Maharaja Kalyan Manikya. The banyan tree, much like the temple, is a symbol of the region’s rich history. Its age and size made it susceptible to the lightning strike, with the dry branches caught fire after lightning struck.
The incident sent shockwaves through the community, causing widespread commotion. Devotees of the temple, where Shiva and Kali are worshipped daily, viewed the event as an ominous sign of impending misfortune. “Lightning striking the ancient banyan tree is a bad omen,” many remarked with voices heavy with concern.
However, not everyone shared this sentiment. Rationalists in the community disagreed, sparking a debate that mirrored the very lightning that had ignited the ancient tree. As the smoke clears and the embers cool, the incident leaves behind not just the charred remnants of a once-majestic tree, but also a community grappling with its beliefs and interpretations.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
