APPEAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FOR VAN MAHOTSAV, JULY 1, 2017
Van Mahotsava is an annual tree planting festival in the month of July. During this festival thousand of trees are planted all over India. In 1950, it was started by K. M. Munshi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food at that time. It was started to create awareness in the mind of the people for the conservation of forests and planting of new trees. Van Mahotsava is celebrated as a festival of life. In India it was started as a crusade to save mother earth. The name Van Mahotsava means 'the festival of trees'. It began in July 1947 after a flourishing tree planting drive was undertaken in Delhi, in which national leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru participated. 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.
We celebrate Van Mahotsava by planting trees or saplings in homes, offices, schools, colleges, etc. Awareness campaigns are held at various levels by different organizations and volunteers. The planting of trees during the festival serves various purposes like providing alternative fuel, 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.
On this occasion to educate 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 pollution.
“He who plant a tree - Plants a hope” - Lucy Larcom
Director of Environment