Guwahati: A stick was pressed in stone, then left behind. Sixty-five years later, it stands fruit-bearing and long-a tree grown from the staff of the fleeing monk. China, Lama, villagers and dignitaries gathered under the Gurusheng tree on Sunday in Zemighang in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh as prayers increased for the long life of the Tibetan spiritual leader on their 90th birthday.This was a very place where the 14th Dalai Lama first rested after escaping from Tibet in 1959. Local people said that the pedestrian stick he used was placed on a stone, before he moved forward, took the root – which is now considered a holy tree, gives birth to him. “They placed it on a rock. Monpus (local community) saw it sprouting. Today, it bear the fruit,” said Lama Kalzang Lundruub, secretary of the Gorazam Stupa Culture Center. “The tree is a blessing. It is growing out of the stone.” The Dalai Lama stayed in Gorazam Stupa after entering India and stayed the second night.He crossed India on 31 March 1959 through Gemithghang. The security forces received him 2 km from Kinjmani at Uttarashaba. Wooden staff, later called Gurusheng Tree, was with them.Now a spiritual milestone, Gurusheng tree attracted more than 18,000 tourists last year. Circle officer Diwan Mara said, “This is the biggest attraction in gemmithing. Under this, prayers are considered to be desire and fullness.”
