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Tradition says
The banni tree ritual is linked to the Mahabharata story of the Pandavas hiding their weapons in a shami tree during exile; kings worshipped it before battle. The procession was originally called Jambi Savari, meaning going to the banni tree, and the British renamed it Jamboo Savari.
Historians say
Where the Jamboo Savari procession ends and the Torchlight Parade - Panjina Kavayatthu - is held on the evening of Vijayadashami. Named for the banni (shami) tree worshipped here.