Tree plantation drive in temples to mark Jayalalithaa's birthday

Chennai: To mark the 68th birthday of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday, a massive sapling plantation drive would be taken up in 6,868 temples across the state by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

"Arrangements have been made to plant saplings of vilvam (bael) in Shaivite temples and punnai (Alexandrian Laurel) and Magizham (ape flower tree) in Vaishnavite temples," a release from the HR and CE Department, which manages a large number of temples across the state, said here today.

The saplings will be planted in 6,868 temples in all 32 districts of the state, it added.

The trees are considered sacred and can be found in many places of Shaivite and Vaishnavite places of worship. Special prayers were held at 122 temples yesterday coinciding with Jayalalithaa's star birthday, as per Tamil almanac, it said.