In India the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) is known as the Sacred Fig. It is a native deciduous tree of India which has been revered for centuries in both Hinduism and Buddhism. It is a very important tree in India where its bark, leaves and roots have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Extracts from the tree are said to be beneficial in relieving a wide range of symptoms including, skin disorders, heart and blood problems, asthma and many more.
This is a tree that keeps on giving. When the leaves are shed by the tree they are collected up and steeped in water for several weeks to reduce the leaf to a skeleton. Once the skeletons have been thoroughly dried they are ready for screen printing and then painting.
Some of the ladies who paint the leaves work at a centre next to the Neyer Dam while others work in their own homes. This work is very skilled and it allows the ladies to support their families from the sale of these leaves. Once painted, the leaves are mounted onto card to produce greetings cards and Christmas cards. The ladies work with a pattern for each design but the colours vary on each card making every one a unique work of art. The full range of cards featuring birds, butterflies, flowers, elephants, and Christmas cards are on sale and can be found by clicking on the Shop.
