Villagers give emotional farewell to centuries-old banyan tree

Lighting of lamps, incense sticks and floral tributes marked a unique farewell given by residents of a nearby village to a 300-year old banyan tree, which was uprooted on Sunday following strong winds.

The tree at Puthur in Thondamuthur area was given an emotional farewell with residents including old-timers who recalled how the giant tree had been associated with their day-to-day lives for nearly seven generations.

The tree was used as a shelter for buses and petty shops.

It took two days to cut the tree and clear the area and locals paid "tearful homage" and pasted posters, including a big one on it, police said.