Chir-Ghat, Japan, the Bo Tree, Thailand, Australia

At Chir-Ghat in India, local women tie pieces of their clothing to the branches of the ancient tree, which reputedly witnessed the appearance of the god Krishna to the gopis (cow-girls). It is an act of devotion expressed through one of nature's most enduring emblems to link this life with the next. 

In Japan, according to ancient Shinto and more recent Buddhist belief, a Kami (spirit) can reside in natural 'objects' such as rivers, and mountains, but also in trees. When this happens the trees are sanctified and adorned with simple ritually folded strips of white paper or sometimes fabric. 

In other countries following the Buddhist faith, trees are also very important. The Bo Tree, under which Buddha gained enlightenment, is often a focus for the Festival of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, which takes place throughout Thailand, Tibet, Burma, Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia in May. After dark the tree is ringed with lights, standing metaphorically for enlightenment. In Thailand, people also decorate the fig tree (Ficus religiosa), with colourful scarves tied around the trunk. 

In Australia, where the Aborigines have alweays acknowledged the importance of trees, Tree Dressing Day has also taken root in the 1990s with events in Melbourne and Hobart.