Lucknow: Forest department on Wednesday inaugurated the ‘Van Mahotsav’ by planting saplings of various species at the Kukrail forest in Lucknow.Principal secretary, department of environment, forest and climate change, UP, V Hekali Zhimomi planted a ‘Gular’ (cluster fig) sapling and established a ‘Navagraha Vatika’, a garden dedicated to the nine celestial bodies, at the site.In Indian astrological tradition, there are nine celestial bodies, or ‘navagraha’, which are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. It is believed that the positioning of these celestial bodies during various periods exerts both favourable and unfavourable influences on individuals.Each ‘graha’ has trees associated with it too. Sun is represented by Aak, Moon by Dhak, Mars by Khair, Mercury by Latjeera, Jupiter by Peepal, Venus by Gular, Saturn by Chhyokar, Rahu by Doob and Ketu by Kush. It is believed that planting these trees can help placate the negative influence of these planets.Meanwhile, more than 200 saplings of different varieties of trees were planted at Kukrail by officials of the forest department, local residents, voluntary organisations and nature enthusiasts.Besides, recognising the nutritional value of mangoes, an ‘Aam bhandara’ (mango festival) was also organised on the occasion. To encourage planting of indigenous mango varieties, mango saplings of the native varieties of the state were given as a memento to each participant.Van Mahotsav is celebrated nationwide in the first week of July.BOXMin plants saplings, pushes for awareness on role of forestsLucknow: UP minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Arun Kumar Saxena on Wednesday planted saplings at Gayatri Shaktipeeth temple premises in Bareilly and a site in Badaun to inaugurate Van Mahotsav. He distributed saplings for the plantation to people who participated in the events. He said that plantation programmes are organised across the country on Van Mahotsav since 1950. The objective of Van Mahotsav is to raise public awareness regarding the role and importance of forests and trees in environmental conservation and secure mass participation and cooperation in tree plantation drives.
