KHEJRI TREE

 In English it is known as Prosopis cinerea. The Khejri tree remains green even in the month of Jeth. In such heat, when there is no shelter for the animals in the desert to escape from the sun, then this tree gives shade. When there is nothing to eat, it gives fodder, which is called loong. Its flower is called Minjhar. Its fruit is called Sangri, from which vegetable is made. When this fruit is dried, it is called Khokha, which is a dry fruit. Its wood is strong, which is used for burning and making furniture for the farmer. The solution is made from its root. This is the only support for the man and the animals of the desert in the time of famine. In the year 1899, there was a famine which is called Chhapaniya famine, at that time the people of the desert were living by eating the peels of the trunks of this tree. Grain yield is high under this tree.

Its fruit is called Sangri, from which vegetables are made. The green beans on this tree are called Sangri. If these beans are not broken raw, then they taste very tasty after cooking. The dry ripe beans, which are called khokhas by the people of Rajasthan, fall on the ground on their own due to the gust of wind, which is a favorite food of goats as well as children.

These leguminous sangrias planted on the Khejri tree are plucked raw and boiled and dried. Delicious Shahi Sabzi is prepared by mixing dry beans with dry ker and buckwheat. Fresh raw sangri can also be used to make a delicious vegetable, but its availability is limited only by the season.

Environmental lovers say that if the Khejri trees are not protected, then one day it will come that the Khejri tree will remain as a heritage of history. The state government had declared Khejri as the state tree in the year 1982, after the announcement of the state tree by the government, neither its saplings were prepared in the nursery of the forest department nor a campaign was launched at the departmental level for its protection. As a result of this, the trees found in abundance on the land of the state are continuously decreasing.

Khejri tree is a very important tree in the vegetation growing in the desert areas of Rajasthan. It is known as the Kalpavriksha of the desert. This is called the lifeline of the Thar residents. It is a leguminous tree of the pulse family, whose botanical name is "Prosopsiscineraria". In Rajasthan, Khejdi is known as Jati. Khejri tree is found in abundance in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. In the desert life there, Khejri acts as a lifeline. The presence of Khejri tree in the field is a sign of the fertile power of the land. Every part of this tree is useful and life-giving to the desert creatures in one way or the other, that is why the Khejri tree is called the Kalpavriksha of the desert region.

In Vedas and Upanishads, Khejdi is described as Shami tree. There is also a tradition of worshiping Shami tree on the day of Dussehra. While returning home after Ravana Dahan, it is customary to bring Shami leaves which are considered to be a symbol of gold. It also has many medicinal properties. There are references to the Pandavas hiding the Gandiv bow in this tree in the last year of their exile. Similarly, there is a mention of the worship of Shami tree by Lord Rama before the conquest of Lanka.

The wood of the Shami or Khejdi tree is considered sacred for the samidha of the Yagya. The Khejdi tree remains green even in the month of Jeth. In such heat, when there is no shelter for the animals in the desert to escape from the sun, then this tree gives shade. The bark is used to kill cough, asthma, mucus, cold and stomach worms. Its leaves are the best animal feed in Rajasthan. Petultrin and aromatic glycoside (M.P. 252-53) are found in it. Its beans are useful in pacifying chest pain and stomach heat. Taking its flowers mixed with sugar does not cause abortion. Its age is estimated to be hundreds of years. Due to the spread of its roots, there is no erosion of the land, on the contrary, the sand remains frozen in the roots, due to which the spread of the desert remains in check. When there is nothing to eat, it gives fodder, which is called loong. Its flower is called Minjhar. Its fruit is called Sangri, from which vegetable is made. When this fruit is dried, it is called Khokha, which is a dry fruit. Its wood is strong, which is used for burning and making furniture for the farmer. The solution is made from its root. This is the only support for the man and the animals of the desert in the time of famine. In the year 1899, there was a famine which is called Chhapaniya famine, at that time the people of the desert were living by eating the peels of the trunks of this tree. Grain yield is high under this tree.

C.R GOYAL KUMAWAT RAJASTHAN