Traditional Banyan–Pakur Tree ‘Wedding’ Held in Kurigram Village

A traditional ceremony resembling a wedding between a banyan tree and a pakur tree was held in Kurigram’s Rajarhat upazila, drawing hundreds of curious villagers.

The event took place last Monday evening at the home of Kirit Kanti Roy in Sonalur Kuthi village under Nazim Khan Union. Local residents gathered to witness the unusual ceremony, which followed Hindu religious traditions.

According to local belief, when a banyan tree and a pakur tree grow together, they should be symbolically married to avoid misfortune in the household. As part of this belief, the family arranged the ceremony with traditional rituals.

During the event, the pakur tree was dressed like a groom with a dhoti and Punjabi, while the banyan tree was decorated with a sari to represent the bride. The area around the trees was decorated with bricks, tiles, banana trees and a canopy, similar to a wedding venue.

Village women took part in a turmeric ceremony and brought water from the river while traditional musical instruments and the sanai were played. More than 50 invited guests attended the event and were welcomed by the host family.

Guests were served a meal that included pulao, vegetables, lentils, several curry dishes and sweets.

Later in the evening, priest Kamal Chakraborty performed the rituals and recited mantras to complete the symbolic marriage. During the ceremony, local resident Gautam Kumar took the role of the bride’s father and performed the symbolic kanyadaan, while homeowner Kirit Kanti Roy represented the groom’s family.

Local residents said the ceremony also carries an environmental message. Bijan Chandra and Indrajit Roy of the village said that once such a marriage takes place, the trees are considered sacred and are never cut down.

“We want these trees to survive for generations. People who come after us will also be told not to cut them,” they said.

Other villagers, including Bhushan Chandra, Pratima Rani and Badal Kanti Roy, said it was the first such ceremony they had seen in the area. They added that the ritual helps raise awareness about protecting trees.

Kirit Kanti Roy said the event is linked to religious beliefs associated with Lakshmi-Narayan worship. According to him, the banyan tree is symbolically considered Narayan and the pakur tree Lakshmi, and the ceremony is performed as part of that tradition.

Several local community members, including Sujan Baksi and Babul Chandra, were present at the ceremony along with hundreds of villagers.