The presence of Covid-19 is pressing out a set of positive, life-altering choices in Uttarakhand.

And these choices now seem to be moving into the happy and green space of festivity.

In July, when a vaccine to fight Covid-19 is still distant, and the pandemic sprawling, the people of Uttarakhand have made a tiny alteration to a local festival that is set to spur a habitual change.

Harela, the local festival that celebrates the green, 'hara', of environment, will witness a focussed inclusion of medicinal plants in the plantation of saplings in public and private spaces, on 16 July -- the day of Harela.

Fighting the Chinese virus needs a mass movement in a response via environment. There are signs that Uttarakhand could be inching towards such a gentle mass movement.

From Worship To Soil

Shravan maas, when Shiva and Gauri are showered with abundance of flowers, prayers, fragrance, is marked by the celebration of hara -- green. The symbolic crop of seeds sown in the household puja space, is offered to the deities.

That bunch of saplings, which emerges from a collection of seeds and grains grown locally, is in itself known as the harela.

The day of Harela, which marks the first day of the Shravan maas in Uttarakhand, also signifies the onset of an auspicious cycle of sowing and produce in the hills. Naturally, the people of the state turn to the protection of the environment in small gestures and measures.

The kitchen warms up to local delicacies on the day of Harela. In the process, the family head, who had ceremoniously sown the seeds nearly 10 days before the day of Harela, gets a good view of how the seed in his store is turning out for the household and produce.

Children are involved in the sowing of the seeds to pass on the heritage and meaning. This seed would eventually contribute to the reap and crop on the land and lush green terraces.

The life-altering addition to Harela festivities

Known for boosting immunity and their medicinal benefits, harad, baheda, amla, arjun, morang, tejpatra, giloye, tulsi, fennel, ashwagandha, triphala are among the plant saplings that have been added to the number of other species for Harela-centered tree plantation efforts of the State in 2020.

With some intervention from the State government, Harela has moved between households and public spaces.

This year, the Trivendra Singh government has accepted the participation of volunteers from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the celebration of Harela.

It's a first.

Last month, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sought permission from the State forest department to be part of the tree plantation programme which would take place in the marking of Harela.

Reportedly, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Jairaj gave RSS the nod to participate.

Among the people behind the proposal to assist the government efforts is RBS Rawat, Prant Sanyojak (environment wing head) of RSS.

The environment wing is aiming at protecting the biodiversity of the State with the help of 100 "Paryavaran Praharis" -- environment-dedicated volunteers in each district for the environment verticals in schools, colleges, Vann Mohatsavs, village panchayats and now Harela.

For the effective protection of the state's biodiversity, the RSS has divided the state into 25 zones.

The organisation has 2,500 "Paryavaran Praharis" in the State. For the Harela and Vann mahotsav point of view, RSS requested the forest department, horticulture department and education department to do the part of these activities selflessly. Rawat says, "RSS doesn't expect much from others. We want to be part of plantation activity. We are helping people in even digging pits."

With the approval coming from the government, Rawat who has himself served as PCCF Uttarakhand in the recent past, has sought to help the government in the plantation drive surrounding Harela and even in the protection of the saplings -- which is often the neglected aspect of protection of saplings.

When Rawat talks of plantation, he does not talk about the plantation of the trees alone. He is of the view that depending on the soil conditions, the state must go for the different species, including medicinal herbs and grass.

His target is planting around 1,25,000 saplings. He adds, "I am of the view that in order to improve upon the food chain supply -- of all the including the micro organisms, ants reptiles, right up to the ultimate, the apex in the food chain, we must plant medicinal herbs, shrubs and even grasses."

Rawat told Swarajya that "the volunteers would need to travel across the state for providing assistance and protection of the saplings on their own. We are not asking the government for anything."

The Shaping Of The State Diversity

Harela is also being used to make a firmer push for the rejuvenation of rivers Gandak, Lohawati, Rispana-Rishiparna, Gaudi and their banks.

The planting of saplings and post-plantation care of the saplings, and their protection over the different stages, will understandably contribute to the rejuvenation of the rivers and the improvement of the banks.

Kalyan Singh Rawat, the man behind the Maiti movement in Uttarakhand, says that Covid has brought a noticeable change in the outlook of the environment-inclined people of state, towards medicinal plants.

This author has earlier written about his efforts towards forestation in the upper districts of the State, via linking marriages with the planting and care of new saplings.

He tells this author that people's neglect of their own land is fast receding -- all thanks to the adversities and threats brought by Covid-19. He says, "Log apni zameen dekh nahin rahe thhe. Ab jaise wo apni zameenon par toot pade hain. The saplings of giloye, ashwagandha, and varieties of tulsi are in huge demand."

Building generational bonds over a tree

Replantation in the villages of the middle Himalayas and protection of the fauna is one of the aims of the Gram Ganga Abhiyan started by Kalyan Singh Rawat.

This initiative is focussed on protecting the biodiversity in the state by connecting the village children with saplings adopted by migrants who are far away from home for livelihood. Rawat believes that the awareness for medicinal plants could enrich this moment as well.

Under the Gram Ganga Abhiyan, the migrant who has contributed to a village pool of funds for tree plantation is sent the progress picture updates of the sapling adopted by him, over the phone. "It connects the migrant adult from the village with children of his village. It builds a bond between two generations with the tree as the centre of the bond. It also helps in strengthening the flora in the state."

This year's Harela points at another possibility. The collective strength of three Rawats -- RBS Rawat (Prant Sanyojak environment wing head of RSS), environmentalist Kalyan Singh Rawat and chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat could see a noticeable change in the state's response to agro-forestry and the growing of medicinal plants and the protection of the state's biodiversity, if the efforts are sustained.

Undoubtedly, this, alongside or in addition to the popularity and strength of Swami Ramdev's efforts in increasing the awareness and popularity of home grown medicinal plants could help Uttarakhand emerge as a leader in the area.

2020 Harela must mark the beginning and cyclical celebration of Uttarakhand's potential as a leading hub of medicinal plant diversity.

Shravan month

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