UP Woman Performs Funeral for 200-Year-Old Tree

Muzaffarnagar: In an unusual act of reverence, an UP woman, Shalu Saini, known for performing the last rites of unclaimed bodies, conducted the funeral of a 200-year-old semal tree in Muzaffarnagar.

The tree, which stood tall for nearly 4-5 generations, fell on Wednesday. Saini, a single mother, performed its last rites on Friday at Nai Mandi Shamshan Ghat as per Hindu customs.

Describing her emotional connection to the tree, Saini said she felt compelled to offer it “mukti” after hearing stories about it from the village elders. “It felt like losing a family member,” she shared.

After consulting a Hindu priest, Saini collected parts of the tree and conducted the funeral privately. She later revealed that she would also hold a ‘havan’ during the upcoming ‘Pitr Visarjan Amavasya’ to further honour the tree.

Saini has spent the past five years helping the poor by performing last rites for over 3,000 unclaimed bodies. She expressed her intent to continue holding funerals for trees if directed by her spiritual beliefs.

Ashutosh Varshney, convenor of Prayagraj’s Ram Naam Bank, praised Saini for her noble act and announced plans to honour her at the Maha Kumbh in 2025.