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Harela festival kicks off with target to plant 5 lakh saplings

Harela festival kicks off with target to plant 5 lakh saplings

Time of India16-07-2025
Dehradun: The Harela festival, a traditional celebration rooted in the agricultural heritage of Uttarakhand's Kumaon region, began on Wednesday. Symbolising prosperity, fertility and the onset of the sowing season, this year's festivities continue with the theme 'ek paed maa ke naam' (plant a tree in Mother Earth's name) — a call to repay our debt to nature by planting trees.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the festival by planting a Rudraksh sapling at the Gorkha Military Intermediate College in Dehradun. He also distributed soil health cards for 24 forest divisions, developed by the Forest Research Institute.
Highlighting the state's environmental initiatives, Dhami said, "Through the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA), over 6,500 water sources have been conserved and 3.12 million cubic meters of rainwater harvested."
The state forest department has set a target of planting at least five lakh saplings during the festival — three lakh in Garhwal and two lakh in Kumaon — across 2,400 designated sites.
Forest minister Subodh Uniyal said the state has maintained a nearly 80% sapling survival rate over the past three years. Principal chief conservator of forests Samir Sinha said by Wednesday, at least 8.13 lakh saplings had been planted. Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi also announced that the agriculture and horticulture departments aim to plant 15 lakh fruit tree saplings.
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8 dead, 5 hurt as jeep falls into gorge in Pithoragarh
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Harela festival kicks off with target to plant 5 lakh saplings
Harela festival kicks off with target to plant 5 lakh saplings

Time of India

time16-07-2025

  • Time of India

Harela festival kicks off with target to plant 5 lakh saplings

Dehradun: The Harela festival, a traditional celebration rooted in the agricultural heritage of Uttarakhand's Kumaon region, began on Wednesday. Symbolising prosperity, fertility and the onset of the sowing season, this year's festivities continue with the theme 'ek paed maa ke naam' (plant a tree in Mother Earth's name) — a call to repay our debt to nature by planting trees. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the festival by planting a Rudraksh sapling at the Gorkha Military Intermediate College in Dehradun. He also distributed soil health cards for 24 forest divisions, developed by the Forest Research Institute. Highlighting the state's environmental initiatives, Dhami said, "Through the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA), over 6,500 water sources have been conserved and 3.12 million cubic meters of rainwater harvested." The state forest department has set a target of planting at least five lakh saplings during the festival — three lakh in Garhwal and two lakh in Kumaon — across 2,400 designated sites. Forest minister Subodh Uniyal said the state has maintained a nearly 80% sapling survival rate over the past three years. Principal chief conservator of forests Samir Sinha said by Wednesday, at least 8.13 lakh saplings had been planted. Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi also announced that the agriculture and horticulture departments aim to plant 15 lakh fruit tree saplings.

Gita shlokas to be recited daily in Uttarakhand govt schools
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Time of India

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