Van Mahotsav
By Nathaniel Nunes
Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting festival in India, celebrated in the first week of July.
It is expected that every citizen of India plants a sapling during the Van Mahotsav week. It also helps to spread awareness amongst people about the ill-effects caused by destroying of trees.
As a part of this festival, on 7th July, St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim along with the local Biodiversity Management Committee and Biodiversity Heritage Site Committee hosted Van Mahotsav 2019. Parishioners attended in large numbers, bringing along with them various plants and samplings with gardening tools.
"The big trees will have online geo tagging to define the exact spot of the plant. We have five gardens in the church and each church association will look after the planted sapling. Under Zhadd Roi Jivit Fuloi, we are trying to inculcate the idea that this festival is not just associated with rituals and religion but offers an opportunity to collaborate with different groups."
Fr. Bolmax Pereira
The enthusiastic parishioners waiting for the activity to commence
The activity took place within the church campus, which has six gardens. Over 300 samplings including fruit-bearing and ornamental plants besides medicinal trees were planted. The various parish associations will be maintaining these gardens.
The parishioners working in the garden
First sampling being handed over
The enthusiastic parishioners