The Kingdom of Bhutan is known for is eco-friendly stance and its general love of trees and plant life. This can be traced to the country’s main religion, Buddhism. Trees are revered in Buddhism as they are seen as a source of life, so when the nation planned a celebration of the birth of the new royal prince, it was decided that the occasion would be marked by planting thousands of trees.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuc and Queen Jetsun Pema recently gave birth to their newest son, leading to the planting of 108,000 trees as a celebration of the event. The 108 number represents a number that is believed to be sacred by Buddhists, which is why this number was chosen for the trees.
Each single tree planted is said to represent a prayer for the new prince, including prayers for the health of the newborn boy, as well as for future strength and wisdom.
