Indian Catholic Youth Movement {ICYM} Cascia Unit celebrates ‘Vanamahotsava 2018’
Mangaluru: Vanamahotsava is to be celebrated from July 1 to 7. It is celebrated in July because July is a special month for trees and tree planting. The concept of Vanamahotsava is known to have been first initiated by (Late) Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, the then Union Minister for Food & Agriculture in the year 1950, because official and regular celebration started in that year. But it appears that the idea had already been conceptualized along with the freedom movement and independence, because in July 1947 a mass tree planting drive was conducted in Delhi in which the national leaders of those days all took part. It was also called Vana Mahotsava. But, it is beyond doubt that it was this great leader who took forward this movement and popularized it, and since then it is celebrated all over the country.
But here in Mangaluru, ICYM Cascia Unit in collaboration with Jeeth Milan Roche – Entrepreneur, Environmentalist and Founder of Mangalore Green Brigade celebrated ‘Vanamahotsava’ a bit earlier to mark ‘World Environmental Day’ on Sunday 17 June 2018 at 10 am by planting 35 saplings at Nandigudda Cemetery Road. Cascia Unit President Rollen Cutinha and other members were present. Saplings were provided by Jeeth Milan Roche.
The relevance of festivals like Vanamahotsava is increasing by the day. The issue of environmental degradation was made a national concern knowing well that unless timely action was taken to prevent and restore, it might go beyond human control and would threaten the survival of any living organisms on this earth planet. While survival and development of human being are important, it is also equally important to preserve the nature which is the only source of oxygen and other essentials required for our living. We have to leave nature to nature, by offsetting the pressure on natural forests to plantation forests. By planting more trees, we can save our natural forests, which are essential for our survival.
