Celebrating the ' Festival of Trees' known as VanaMahotsava...
By kiran8
@kiran8 (15348)
Mangalore, India
July 24, 2010 1:07pm CST
This is celebrated in India in July generally on the 9th or thereafter depending on the convenience.This is a green movement started in the fifties which has become even more relevant now.
We celebrated the event like we do every year here last week on the 19th .We have formed a group of ladies and men coming from all walks of life.We prepare plant saplings and distribute them to small offices,government offices , schools, shops and other business houses .We also help them plant in larger pots or if there is space available ,plant them out in the soil.Last year I had prepared and given 14 plants and this year I have given 23 plant saplings, which were all distributed and I have many people asking for more plants.
The preparation starts at least 2 months before Vanamahotsava , when I start taking cuttings and start them planting into empty plastic milk packets filled with a mixture of sand and soil.Most of them begin to grow roots and start growing well in the plastic bag.This year I had a hibiscus plant which had grown to a full fledged plant with buds and it was the first one to be selected by a school teacher who wanted it for her home...I love this time of the year when the monsoon rains are beating down and we are close to nature...
So friends do you all have a special day in celebration for nature and environment..
2 people like this
6 responses
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
26 Jul 10
Hi Kiran!
It makes an interesting reading. It is really wonderful on your part to grow plant saplings and then celebrate the festival called 'Festival of tress'in the month of July. I love growing plants and nurturing them. We do not celebrate any such festival here in New Delhi.
Have a great day!
Deepak
It makes an interesting reading. It is really wonderful on your part to grow plant saplings and then celebrate the festival called 'Festival of tress'in the month of July. I love growing plants and nurturing them. We do not celebrate any such festival here in New Delhi.
Have a great day!
Deepak @kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
26 Jul 10
Deepak, I have always been interested in plants and nature and took part in the celebration even while I was in school.It is a continuous process and now I really enjoy doing this little bit towards the green movement.I think this is a movement started in the fifties by a few eminent thinkers who were concerned about the environment ...Just that nowadays people are too busy to care - all the best Deepak 
I have always been interested in plants and nature and took part in the celebration even while I was in school.It is a continuous process and now I really enjoy doing this little bit towards the green movement.I think this is a movement started in the fifties by a few eminent thinkers who were concerned about the environment ...Just that nowadays people are too busy to care - all the best Deepak 1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jul 10
It's probably a lot different. Not really a festival at all. Here is some information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbor_Day
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
28 Jul 10
you really think we need some festivals or special days to plant a sapling --- show me some empty space and there i go with a new plant 
i see your brains with lots of empty space though....would you mind if i plant one there 
i see your brains with lots of empty space though....would you mind if i plant one there 1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
26 Jul 10
Hi Kiran,
The intention of the festival is to encourage people to plant trees and save the environment. I am happy to know that you also participated in it. In Kerala too, especially in school and college students are planting trees on this particular season. ‘One person has one tree’ is their slogan. I am not sure about the success of this festival but media is giving much important to this and I am watching on the same on television.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
26 Jul 10
Hi Sreekala, yes thats exactly what it is. Vana mahotsava or the festival of trees is celebrated to make the environment healthy .I think it is more popular in Gujrat and in the southern states of India where people live close to nature.I am providing a link which is a nice article about the celebration of Vanamahotsava - all the best Sree and have a great eveneing
http://articles.maxabout.com/environment-ecology/importance-of-vanamahotsava/article-7368
http://articles.maxabout.com/environment-ecology/importance-of-vanamahotsava/article-73681 person likes this
@theonlyone123 (451)
•
25 Jul 10
thanks for sharing the information. I've gained a new piece of knowledge about the culture and heritage. I like the festival as it really helps to improve the environment. Sadly this does no happen in my area as the people here are too busy manning their lives and do not bother about the environment anymore.
Cheers.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
25 Jul 10
Hi, thanks a lot for your response , In India we used to have a vast forest cover and it really helped us by regulating the temperature.Once major cities started growing these forest covers began to vanish and there were many ill effects like a shortage of rain fall and a general increase in the temperature levels...So a few eminent thinkers foresaw what could happen in years to come and earmarked a day for celebrating nature, which is what Vanamahotsava is all about. In UK a lot of care is given by the authorities to maintain the green belt around the cities and one finds a lot of greener even in the middle of a city like London, so there is no need to worry since care is already being taken to maintain the eco balance - all the best and have a great day
, In India we used to have a vast forest cover and it really helped us by regulating the temperature.Once major cities started growing these forest covers began to vanish and there were many ill effects like a shortage of rain fall and a general increase in the temperature levels...So a few eminent thinkers foresaw what could happen in years to come and earmarked a day for celebrating nature, which is what Vanamahotsava is all about. In UK a lot of care is given by the authorities to maintain the green belt around the cities and one finds a lot of greener even in the middle of a city like London, so there is no need to worry since care is already being taken to maintain the eco balance - all the best and have a great day @sunnycool (12714)
• India
25 Jul 10
I heard of this festival but was never part of this --- i thought people spend their time happily in a temple or a holy place exchanging their food items...more of a get together.havent seen anyone distributing plant saplings though---it would be fun to celebrate these kinda festivals which does good to the environment.Happy VanaMahosava.great day.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
25 Jul 10
Hi sunny, no it has nothing to do with god or religion.It is actually a movement started in the fifties by some eminent thinkers who realised the importance of preserving trees and forest land.In South India and esp in Karnataka we celebrate in most places and I have known it since my childhood because we celebrated it while I was in school...I wish people gave more importance to environmental issues...All the best and have a nice day
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
31 Jul 10
That is strange! because even today in almost all schools here in my town Vanamahotsava is being celebrated. My children know all about it and in most schools children are made aware of its significance and plants and saplings are distributed to children so that they plant it in their houses...
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
28 Jul 10
i never heard of this movement.there were times when we planted some in our NSS camp.we thoroughly enjoyed working in those lonely places which were too far from our college
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Quite an interesting post, thank you! I enJOY learning about other cultures and their celebrations.
Here in the United States we have National Arbor Day, which is celebrated the last Friday in April. However, because of climate differences, each of our states observe their individual state Arbor Day at a different designated time of year, unique to their growing season.
I'd be interested in knowing how you cultivated the hibiscus. I have a few hibiscus growing along a fence and would love to run them all along the length of the fence.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
25 Jul 10
Hi, Thanks a lot for your response ....You could start a discussion on National Arbor day, I am sure many of the American members would join in and post their views, afteral that is the main purpose of these discussion sites , to gain knowledge and exchange views..I take a healthy cutting from a hibiscus plant and just plant it in a small pot filled with equal parts of soil and sand. It begins to grow roots and new leaves and once it is firmly established you can transfer it wherever you want, either to some place in your garden or into a larger pot - all the best and have a great sunday
....You could start a discussion on National Arbor day, I am sure many of the American members would join in and post their views, afteral that is the main purpose of these discussion sites , to gain knowledge and exchange views..I take a healthy cutting from a hibiscus plant and just plant it in a small pot filled with equal parts of soil and sand. It begins to grow roots and new leaves and once it is firmly established you can transfer it wherever you want, either to some place in your garden or into a larger pot - all the best and have a great sunday @abitosunshine (765)
• United States
27 Jul 10
Thank you for the advice on the hibiscus. I had no idea if cuttings would grow. I'll be doing it for sure. The ones I have are giant in height and width and are in full bloom right now. So should I wait until after they are finished blooming to take the cuttings, do you think?
And, come April, I just may do an Arbor Day post, thank you once again! I definitely appreciate the exchange of knowledge and information!
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jul 10
I normally am able to take cuttings at any time of the year.I would suggest you do it now when it is warm, because Hibiscus needs a certain amount of warmth and light to grow. Dont you trim the hibiscus plant once in while.In India Hibiscus plants flower all through the year and I keep trimming mine every now and then ...All the best, hope that you are able to successfully propagate new hibiscus plants through cuttings..have a nice day
