The majestic banyan tree of Ghe village

SACRED TREE OF THE VILLAGE

As the new year of Giap Thin approaches, the road to Duc Co border district is also entering spring. Apricot trees planted in front of houses on both sides of the road are beginning to bud. Rubber forests in the deciduous season turn yellow along many highland roads in the chilly air. After crossing such a spring road of nearly 100 km from Pleiku City ( Gia Lai ), we came to Ghe village to see with our own eyes the unique heritage banyan tree in Gia Lai.

The ancient banyan tree is where the Ghe village festival is held.

Next to the Ia Ghe stream, water flows day and night, and the ancient banyan tree stands tall, shading an area of ​​about 400 square meters.

This is also where the village's water drop (water wharf) is located. The village elders say that for many generations, this is where villagers came to get water for daily activities, bathing and washing every day. After a hard day's work, farmers stopped by the water drop to bathe before returning home. Since morning, girls have been carrying baskets containing water to the stream to collect cool drops of water and bring them back. At noon, the village's children gathered here to bathe and play...

The water drop, the banyan tree of Ghe village, therefore, from early morning until dusk, is always filled with laughter and chatter. Many villagers said that when they were born, they saw the towering banyan tree. Now that they have returned to Yang (Heaven), the tree is still towering like that. Later, because the villagers dug their own wells and the government invested in and supported domestic water, the water drop near the banyan tree gradually became less crowded.

The Jrai people in Ghe village regard the banyan tree as the village’s guardian deity. They keep the banyan tree clean and do not do anything to pollute it. On the occasion of the water wharf worship ceremony, the community here always organizes an additional ceremony to worship the banyan tree, which many people say is to worship the tree god.

From afar, the banyan tree of Ghe village stands tall, casting a cool shade over an area. Seeing it in person, everyone is amazed by the grandeur of the tree with a height of about 45 m, a circumference of the main trunk of about 13 m and 8 beautiful secondary trunks. The tree's rough roots have been silent over the years. Surrounded by people's gardens and beautiful terrain, the beauty of the tree is enhanced.

PROUD OF VIETNAMESE HERITAGE TREE

From being just a beautiful ancient tree in Ghe village as well as in Gia Lai, the banyan tree has gradually become famous on many forums and online communities, known and admired by many people. This is also the only ancient tree in Gia Lai up to this point that has been recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment since 2016.

The banyan tree has 8 beautiful branches.

Mr. Puih O, the village elder of Ghe village, proudly said: "Since I was a child, I have seen the tree grow very big. Now I am over 60 years old, and I have seen with my own eyes the tree's branches growing longer and longer. I heard my grandparents say that this tree was planted by a villager named Chong to provide shade for the village's water. Mr. Chong's descendants are now the 5th generation. Many people who come here say that this is the first time they have seen such a big and beautiful banyan tree, which makes me and everyone in the village even happier. Everyone is conscious of preserving the tree, and no one dares to destroy anything for fear of causing trouble."

Every year, the village holds a festival under the shady banyan tree. The shade of the tree spreads out enough for the whole village to attend the festival. The sound of gongs and drums echoes throughout the area. Ms. Kpuih Hnok, the fourth generation grandchild of Mr. Chong, shared: "Our family's farm is right next to the banyan tree. When we heard that the tree was recognized with some kind of precious title, everyone in our family was happy and proud. Thanks to the banyan tree, the villagers have shade every time there is a drop of water. It is also very cool to sit under the tree while working in the fields at noon."

Ghe village now has 229 households, 955 people living together. Now that the road is accessible by car, people's lives have changed positively, many households have become well-off. Children can go to school, study further, and have stable jobs. Farming with tree-animal models brings good income. Mr. Ro Lan Peu, Chairman of Ia Dok Commune People's Committee, said: "There are still many difficulties, but life has improved a lot, both in the commune and in Ghe village. I hope that more tourists will know about Ghe village's banyan tree and that superiors will invest in tourism development, contributing to preserving the historical and cultural values ​​of the people and this land."

Although life here is not really prosperous, we feel the peace in this land of heritage trees. Not far from the village, the Le Thanh International Border Gate area with Cambodia, although not yet bustling, has seen potential when the relationship between the two countries has been and is progressing well, especially in trade activities. This is also an opportunity for Duc Co border district and people in villages and communes to improve their livelihoods. (continued)

On the occasion of receiving the certificate of recognition as a Vietnam Heritage Tree for the banyan tree of Ghe village in November 2016, Mr. Nguyen Dieu, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, said: "The selection and honoring of the banyan tree of Ghe village as a Vietnam Heritage Tree aims to directly preserve the typical genetic resources and introduce the diversity of Vietnam's flora. This is also an action to promote tourism and local historical traditions. Through this activity, we hope to contribute to raising awareness of respect for history, respect for nature and responsibility for protecting the environment of the community."

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-dao-cay-di-san-viet-nam-ky-vi-cay-da-lang-ghe-185240107201301361.htm