Page "Bishnois" Paragraph 7

The Bisnois narrate the story of Amrita Devi, a Bishnoi woman who, along with more than 363 other Bishnois, died saving the Khejarli trees.

Nearly 2 centuries back, Maharajah Abhay Singh of Jodhpur required some woods for the construction of his new palace.

So the king sent his soldiers to cut trees in the nearby region of Khejarli, where the village is filled with the large number of trees.

But when Amrita Devi and local villagers came to know about it, they opposed the king's men.

The malevolent feudal party told her that if she wanted the trees to be spared, she would have to give them money as bribe.

She refused to acknowledge this demand and told them that she would consider it as an act of insult to her religious faith and would rather give away her life to save the green trees.

This is still remembered as the great Khejarli sacrifice.

Some Bishnois who were killed protecting the trees were buried in Khejerli village near Jodhpur, where a simple grave with four pillars had been erected.

Every year, in September, the Bishnois assemble there to commemorate the extreme sacrifice made by their people to preserve their faith and religion.