Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) As Diwali lights up Tamil Nadu with color and sound, the quiet village of Perambur near Kollidam in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai stands out – not with fireworks, but in silence.
For more than a century, the villagers here have maintained a remarkable vow: no bursting of firecrackers, no burning of garbage, and no loud celebrations.
Their reason is both simple and profound – to protect hundreds of bats nesting on a giant banyan tree located about a kilometer away from a residential area.
The ancient banyan tree, which is home to hundreds of fruit bats, is central to the village’s identity.
But now it has become a subject of mild controversy among the residents.
While one group wants to promote the “Bat Grove” as an eco-tourism attraction that could create local jobs, others warn that increased human activity could disrupt the delicate ecosystem they have protected for generations.
Local farmer B. “We don’t want to lose the village’s identity,” Karti said. “Even a little smoke or noise will harm bats.”
Many villagers consider bats as sacred creatures.
Brema Palani, 48, who came to the village from Salem after marriage, said, “I have not burst any firecracker for 25 years.”
“This is not a restriction, but a tradition. We have learned to respect it.”
Despite growing curiosity among bird watchers and nature lovers, the site remains difficult to access.
The only way to reach it is by walking through knee-deep muddy fields on a narrow, three-foot-wide path.
Villagers said that a mud road once connected the grove to the village but this road was lost when farmers expanded their fields.
“We are asking the authorities to restore the road,” said a farmer.
Sirkazhi Forest Range Officer B. Ayub Khan said officials were carefully considering options.
“Building a road directly to the tree will cause noise pollution. A better approach would be to build a road only 500 meters from the site and set up an observation area for visitors and researchers,” he said.
However, no formal plans have been prepared yet.
Even as Diwali festivities are in full swing across Tamil Nadu, Perambur continues its age-old pledge – silence rather than spectacle and reverence rather than fun – to ensure that its feathered inhabitants remain undisturbed.
–IANS
aal/vd