The Man Who Sees God in Trees: Puneet Katyayan's Spiritual Quest in Lucknow's Green Spaces

You know, sometimes the most profound discoveries aren't found in distant lands or ancient ruins, but right under our noses, if only we bothered to truly look. That's certainly the case for Puneet Katyayan, a resident of Lucknow, who possesses a rather extraordinary gift – an ability to spot the divine, quite literally, nestled within the gnarled branches and rugged trunks of the city’s trees. For Puneet, a walk through a park isn't just a stroll; it's a sacred quest, a quiet search for Lord Ganesh, hidden in plain sight by Mother Nature herself.

It all began, as many passions do, with a simple observation, a moment of serendipity. Imagine seeing a familiar shape in the bark, a distinctive curve here, a suggestive knot there, and suddenly, the beloved elephant-headed deity begins to emerge. It’s not about wishful thinking for Puneet; it's about an acute sensitivity, a spiritual attunement that allows him to perceive these natural masterpieces. He dedicates a good chunk of his time, often wandering through the city's green belts, especially around Gomti Nagar, where older, more characterful trees stand sentinel, patiently waiting for him to uncover their secrets.

For Puneet, these aren't just fascinating coincidences; they're deeply spiritual affirmations. He firmly believes that Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, is omnipresent, residing not just in temples and idols, but woven into the very fabric of existence. Finding these natural Ganeshas, then, becomes a powerful, personal connection to the divine, a tangible reminder of the sacred beauty that permeates our world. Each discovery fills him with a profound sense of peace and wonder, a quiet joy that he's eager to share.

And share he does! When Puneet finds one of these tree-born Ganeshas, he carefully photographs it, sometimes gently enhancing the image to highlight the features, but always ensuring the essence remains purely natural. He's found them in the sinews of peepal trees, the sturdy trunks of banyan, and the graceful limbs of neem. People, upon seeing his photographs – often shared with friends or on social media – are utterly captivated. There's a collective gasp, a murmur of awe, as they too begin to see the intricate details: the trunk, the ears, the serene expression, all crafted by wind, rain, and time. It’s truly something to behold.

What's truly remarkable about Puneet's endeavor isn't just the sheer number of Ganesh forms he's identified, but the ripple effect it creates. His unique perspective serves as a gentle invitation for all of us to slow down, to look beyond the obvious, and to find beauty and meaning in the most unexpected places. It's a testament to the idea that divinity isn't confined to grand structures but flourishes in the everyday, the natural, the unnoticed. Perhaps, just perhaps, if we all adopted a little bit of Puneet's observant eye and open heart, we might find our own moments of profound connection, seeing the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary world around us.