Let’s Plant a Tree in Every Festival!!!

Let’s Plant a Tree in Every Festival Because Without Trees Being Part of It No Festivals Can Be Celebrated!!!

INDIA

What are the things that comes to our mind when we hear this word India? Within a moment the silver screen of our mind rolls down the images of our variety culture, the ritualistic traditions the colorful celebrations of different festivals, & the beautiful co-existence of paradoxes, contradictions & incongruities. A culture of oxymora !!Not only that, ours is the oldest cultures and traditions in the world too. Moreover, we never hesitate to accommodate new things, new ideas as well. And the best thing is, we have the guts too to discard outdated notions & obsolete concepts. isn’t it?

Festivals, out of all, defines India’s soul. We Indians love to celebrate every small thing. And guess what, our festivals are mostly connected to Nature. And if I am correct then Trees are the most important part of almost all our festivals, rituals, or traditions.

For instance, Let’s think of an Indian festival where the plants or trees are not part of it…can we find one? I guess…rarely so? So, if tree or plants are always an inseparable part of our festivals then how about PLANTING A TREE While Celebrating Every Festival!!!

This year, fortunately I was invited to be a part of a Plantation Drive By Lioness Club, Seawoods, Navi Mumbai by my friend Madhu Shankar on the day of LOHRI!!!

It is believed that the festival LOHRI commemorates the passing of the winter solstice. Lohri marks the end of winter & is a traditional welcome of longer days and the SUN’s journey to the northern hemisphere.

One of the important parts of Lohri celebration is worshiping bonfire. Why do we burn fire on Lohri? Folklore of Punjab believes that the flames of the bonfire lit on the day of Lohri carry the messages & prayers of the people to the Sun God to bring warmth to the planet to help crops grow. In exchange, the SUN GOD blesses the land & ends the days of gloom and cold.

Not only Lohri, whether its HOLIKA or Havan, Diwali or Death or Wedding or Cremation, for every ritual or festival we believe in Flames of Fire. And a tree (read part of a tree) is lit to flame that pious fire & exactly that’s where I feel that “We Should Plant a Tree” in the same day when we use it as a part of our celebration.

Moreover, Trees are a link between the past, present and future. With exponential diminution in forest cover worldwide because of our ambitious idea of lifestyle, the only way we can save trees is by consciously acting towards environmental conservation.

Looking at the perilous impact that rampant deforestation, fuelled by development and infrastructure projects, has over the environment, it has become a necessity, actually a dire need to Plant More Trees anyways.

And what would be the best occasion when we celebrate our favourite festival. By Clubbing Festivals & Rituals with Trees, not only we can change the Face of India & the Entire Globe But also, we can change the Fate of the Planet Earth!!!

Therefore, I Feel LET’S PLANT A TREE IN EVERY FESTIVAL OR OBSERVING RITUALS TO CELEBRATE IT IN TRUE SPIRIT!!LET’S TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF CELEBRATION!!! And Trust me It’s Immensely Soul Gratifying Also!!!