Biblical trees planted in Kerala churchyard on Gandhi Jayanthi

Sending the message of nature conservation on Gandhi Jayanthi, several plants mentioned in the Bible like olive, fig and vine were planted in a churchyard here today.

The programme was initiated by Young Family Fellowship of the century-old Christ Church in the heart of the city as part of its campaign on the dangers posed by global warming and climate change and the importance of protecting nature from further harm.

"We chose Gandhi Jayanthi for launching the programme as the Mahatma has taught us how important it is to refrain from violence against nature," Verghese Ninan, a member of Young Fellowship said.

As many as 30 plants, all of them having references in the Bible, like cyprus, oak,date palm, pine and 'Commiphora', whose resin is used in making myrrh, with which the Wise Men from the East greeted the infant Jesus, had been planted.

The list was made in consultation with Biblical experts according to whom the scripture has referecnes to over 100 trees in different contexts, Ninan said.

The spaligns were mostly brought from botanical gardens and nurseries from Udhgamandalam in Tamil Nadu.

"We have plans to plant other trees referred in the Bible in the next phases of the project," he said.

"The project has also an educational value as young generation are largedly ignorant of many of the plants and trees referred in the Bible or the Indian mythology. Once these plants grow, our children would get an opprtunity to see and rejoice these plants", he added.