Van Mahotsav is a week-long festivalcelebrated in India. This is a Tree festival of life and is usually celebrated between 1st July and 7th July. The name Van Mahotsava means 'the festival of trees'. It began in July 1947 after a flourishing tree planting drive was undertaken in Delhi. The festival was simultaneously celebrated in a number of states in India. Since then, thousands of saplings of diverse species are planted with energetic participation of the locals and various agencies like the Forest Department. It was started as a crusade with the lofty purpose of saving the mother earth.
The ‘Van Mahotsav’ festival of trees is a beautiful initiative to save the environment, generally, native trees are planted as they readily adapted to the local conditions, integrate into eco-systems and have a high survival rate. Besides, such trees are helpful in supporting local birds, insects and animals. The planting of trees serves various purposes like increase production of food resources, helps create shelter-belts around fields to increase productivity, provide food for cattle, offers shade and decorative landscapes, helps conserves soil deterioration, etc. The festival educates the awareness of trees among people and portrays the need of planting and tending of trees, as trees are one of the best ways to prevent global warming and reduce air pollution.
Further to highlight the importance of trees, the dense mangrove forests growing along the coastal areas of our state, which helped in reducing the devastating effects of the Tsunami in 2004. They absorbed the oncoming waves and protected a large number of human habitations.
I urge all to take responsibility for join hands with common people to celebrate Van Mahotsava by planting trees or saplings in homes, offices, schools, colleges, etc. State Governments and civic bodies are supplying the saplings to promote the initiative. Awareness campaigns should be held at various levels of the community for the conservation of forests and planting of new trees.
Director
Department of Environment