THE SACRED TREE OF THE VILLAGE
As the Year of the Dragon approaches, the road to the border district of Đức Cơ is also entering spring. The apricot trees planted in front of houses along the road are beginning to bud. The rubber forests, shedding their leaves, turn yellow and stretch endlessly along many highland roads in the cool weather. Traveling nearly 100 km along this spring route from Pleiku City ( Gia Lai ), we arrived at Ghè village to see firsthand the unique heritage banyan tree in Gia Lai.
The ancient banyan tree is where the Ghè village festival is held.
Beside the Ia Ghe stream, where the water flows gently day and night, a majestic ancient banyan tree stands, casting its shade over an area of approximately 400 square meters.
This is also where the village's water source (the well) is located. The elders in the village say that for generations, this has been where villagers came to fetch water for daily use, bathing, and washing. After a hard day's work, farmers would stop by the well to bathe before returning home. Young women would arrive early in the morning carrying baskets of water containers to the stream to collect cool, refreshing water. At midday, the village children would gather here to bathe and play...
The stream near the banyan tree in Ghè village is therefore always bustling with laughter and chatter from early morning until dusk. Many villagers recount that they saw the banyan tree standing tall since birth, and now that they are nearing the end of their lives, the tree still stands majestically. In recent times, due to villagers digging their own wells and government investment in water supply, the stream near the banyan tree has gradually become less frequented.
The Jrai people in Ghè village regard the banyan tree as the village's guardian deity. They keep the base of the tree clean and avoid any actions that might soil it. During the water-worshiping festival, the community always holds an additional ceremony to worship the banyan tree, which many say is a worship of the tree spirit.
From afar, the banyan tree in Ghè village stands majestically, casting a cool shade over the area. Upon seeing it in person, everyone is amazed by its grandeur, reaching a height of approximately 45 meters, with a main trunk circumference of about 13 meters and eight beautiful secondary trunks. Its gnarled trunk stands silently, weathered by the years. Surrounding it are the villagers' gardens and fields, and the beautiful landscape further enhances the tree's beauty.
PROUD OF VIETNAM'S HERITAGE TREE
From being just a beautiful ancient tree in Ghè village and Gia Lai province, the banyan tree gradually became famous on many forums and online communities, attracting many people to come and admire it. It is also the only ancient tree in Gia Lai to date that has been recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment since 2016.
The banyan tree has 8 very beautiful secondary trunks.
Mr. Puih O, the village elder of Ghe village, proudly said: "I've seen this tree since I was a child. Now I'm over 60, and I've seen its branches grow longer and longer. I heard from my grandparents that this tree was planted by a villager named Chong to provide shade for the village's water source. Chong's descendants are now in their fifth generation. Many people who come here say it's the first time they've seen such a large and beautiful banyan tree, which makes me and everyone in the village happy. Everyone is conscious of preserving it; no one dares to damage the tree for fear of misfortune."
Every year, the village holds a festival under the shady banyan tree. The tree's shade is large enough for the entire village to attend the festival. The sound of gongs and drums echoes throughout the area. Ms. Kpuih Hnok, the fourth-generation descendant of Mr. Chơng, shared: "Our family's fields are right next to the banyan tree. When we heard that the tree had been recognized with some very prestigious title, everyone in our family was happy and proud. Thanks to the banyan tree, the villagers have shade whenever they need water. Sitting under the tree while working in the fields at noon is also very cool."
The village of Ghè now has 229 households and 955 inhabitants. With roads now accessible by car, the lives of the people have improved significantly, and many households have become more prosperous. Children can attend school, pursue higher education, and find stable jobs. Agriculture, with its integrated farming models, provides good income. Mr. Rơ Lan Pêu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ia Dơk commune, said: "There are still many difficulties, but life has improved considerably, both in the commune and in Ghè village. We hope that more tourists will learn about the ancient banyan tree in Ghè village and that the higher authorities will invest in developing tourism , contributing to preserving the historical and cultural values of the people and the land."
Life here, though not yet prosperous, brings a sense of peace to this land of heritage banyan trees. Not far from the village, the Le Thanh International Border Gate area, bordering Cambodia, is not yet bustling, but its potential is evident as relations between the two countries have been progressing well, especially in trade. This also presents an opportunity for the border district of Duc Co and the people of the villages and communes to improve their livelihoods. (to be continued)
During the ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing the banyan tree in Ghè village as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree in November 2016, Mr. Nguyen Dieu, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment, said: "The selection and honoring of the banyan tree in Ghè village as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree aims to directly preserve typical genetic resources and introduce the diversity of Vietnam's flora. This is also an action to promote tourism and the historical traditions of the locality. Through this activity, we hope to contribute to raising awareness of respect for history, respect for nature, and responsibility for environmental protection within the community."
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