​Happy birthday to you, Ashoka saplings!

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital city witnessed a unique birthday celebration on Tuesday when neem seed cake was served in a banana leaf during the first birthday party of 12 little ones.
Don’t mistake them for kids, they were saplings of Ashoka tree. Former chief conservator of forest C Karunakaran and Friends of Trees (an organization of tree lovers) jointly celebrated the first birthday of 12 Ashoka saplings planted along Vazhuthacaud-Cotton Hill school stretch on Tuesday.
The saplings were planted on the median of the stretch at a distance of 10 ft. “The Ashoka tree is an ideal one to be planted on roadsides. Its branches don’t spread out wide. The tree is facing extinction and the decision to plant these trees along the road was aimed at protecting it,” Karunakaran said.
The tree is also known for its medicinal value. Ashoka trees also increase the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. The flowering season of the tree is February to April. Karunakaran planted and nurtured these plants by himself. Velappan, another tree lover, assisted him for nurturing the plants. Kuttan, a corporation employee, is also associated with them. Both were felicitated during the event.
Chief conservator of forest R Raja Raja Varma inaugurated the event.