What the Banyan Teaches Us About Connection
There are some trees you notice because they are beautiful. And then there are trees you notice because they make you stop. For me, the banyan tree is one of those trees.I have always been fascinated by its roots. They don’t simply stay underground. They travel down from the branches, slowly making their way towards the earth, creating new points of connection. What begins as one tree can eventually look like an entire little forest.
The more I look at a banyan, the more I feel that it has a story to tell.
A Tree That Keeps Growing
What makes the banyan so fascinating is the way it grows.
Its aerial roots emerge from its branches and grow down towards the ground. Once they reach the soil, they can develop into supporting structures that look like additional trunks.
It is almost as if the tree keeps finding new ways to hold itself. It reaches outward, creates new roots and expands its space.And that makes me think about how we grow too. Sometimes growth is not about moving away from where we began. Sometimes it is about creating new connections while remaining rooted in what matters to us.
More Than Just a Tree
The banyan is also an important part of the ecosystem.
Its large canopy provides shelter and shade, while its fruits can provide food for birds and other animals. Its branches, roots and surrounding soil create spaces where insects and other forms of life can thrive. A tree is never really just a tree.
When we look closely, we begin to see an entire community.
Birds arrive, Insects move through the leaves, Roots interact with the soil, Fallen leaves return nutrients to the earth. Shade changes the temperature beneath the canopy. Everything is connected.
And perhaps this is one of the most important things a banyan can remind us of.
Nothing in nature exists completely on its own.
What I Notice as an Artist
As an artist, I naturally find myself looking at the details.
The rough texture of the bark, lines created by the roots, twists and turns of the branches, shadows beneath the canopy, little patterns created by leaves and light.
These are the kinds of details that can easily be missed when we are rushing through our day. But when I stop and look, I start seeing possibilities everywhere.
A line becomes a branch, texture becomes a mark, root becomes a pattern and a shadow becomes another layer
This is one of the reasons trees continue to inspire my work. They remind me to observe before I create.
A Tree That Makes Me Think About Connection
The banyan has made me think differently about the idea of being rooted. We often imagine roots as something hidden beneath the ground.
But the banyan’s roots are visible. They travel from the branches towards the earth, creating new connections along the way.
I find that beautiful. Maybe being rooted doesn’t mean staying still. Maybe we can be rooted and still reach outward. We can grow. We can change. We can create new connections. And we can become part of something much larger than ourselves.
A Small Invitation
The next time you pass a banyan tree, don’t just walk past it.
Stop for a few minutes.
Look at the trunk.
Look at the roots.
Look at the branches.
Notice the insects, birds and sounds around it.
Look at the shadows it creates.
And ask yourself:
If this tree could tell you one story, what would it say?
Maybe you won’t hear an answer.
But perhaps, for a few minutes, you’ll notice something you would have otherwise missed. And sometimes, I think, that is where art begins.
Not in making — but in noticing.
Deepa Anand 