Neelam Gupta/Jaipur

Three days before Hariyali Teej, a Hindu festival when women pray for the long life of their husbands, Village Manda Bhopawas in Rajasthan presented a mesmerising view. Some 500 women dressed in ciolourful sarees, their faces with a touch up of makeup and hands painted in delicate floral designs in henna, had descended here.

They were there to follow and also break traditions at the same time.

The women tied a red thread- symbolic of love and respect –around a girth of the Banyan tree located in the middle of the village. This tradition was hundreds of years old and a reason why almost all Rajasthan villages have a Banyan tree.

Women planting trees

Next came what was a deliberate departure from the tradition – instead of praying for their husbands’ long life, these women planted one Banyan tree each. They were singing traditional songs and smiling all through.

“This time, they not only prayed but had worked for the health of all living beings and nature,” said one of the organizers of the event that has become a record of sorts.

The drive of planting 500 trees in one village was recorded in the Golden book of World records.

The planting of world's only Banyan forest

India-based officer of Golden Book of World Records Dr. Manish Bishnoi said his organisation had received an application from Mahavir International Pink city center, jaipur (MIP) an  NGO and the Sarpanch of Manda Bhopawas village, Mahendra Yadav for recording the event of planting of 500 Banyan trees by women.

“This was a great idea: It was because today when trees are being cut due to lack of space, planting 500 banyan trees was a big deal. On August 8, our team did online verification and it is now known as 'Largest Bunyan Tree Sapling Plantation Initiative.'

MIP has been planting 3000-5000 trees in the city and villages, educational and industrial institutions and over the hills each year and takes care of all its plants through a network of volunteers. The NGO has even launched a special drive to plant trees in and around educational institutions of the desert state.

The campaign to organise 500 women for the drive was not easy. Rajeev Aggarwal, President, MIP, said his organisation has been planning to create small forests close to the villages but the land was not available.

The certificate by Golden Book of world records

“At times the villagers would back out at the last minute,” he said. Trees are important to reversing the trend of rising temperatures in summer.

“The simplest and most stable solution to a warmer climate can be developing gardens by planting trees around human habitations where it will have a direct impact on their health.

Village Sarpanch Mahendra Yadav and elected members of the panchayat agreed to the plan of the NGO. They were conscious of the environmental degradation and its impact on the health of humans  and the environment.

“The way people died due to lack of oxygen in the second wave of corona we realised the need of having trees around for a healthy population,” Yadav said.

Several rounds of talks were held between the NGO and the villagers to discuss the pros and cons of this drive. Yadav said he had confidence in this organisation because of its track record. “They planted 2000 trees about two years ago and took good care of them,” he said.

A woman displaying certificate of her participation in the plantation drive

The villagers realized that not only the 500 banyan trees will give them health benefits, they will also make their village famous. Besides, it could also inspire others to do the same.

Yadav said the age of the Banyan tree is 700 years and its groove could give shade to animals and be the home to the birds besides giving oxygen to the humans. The village panchayat decided to plant fruit trees in between for the consumption of locals.

The village panchayat liked this idea and gave a go ahead for the plantation. The saplings were  organized by the MIP. As per the agreement, the plants will be looked after by the Panchayat. The 500 banyan saplings and 1600 other trees have been planted on 16 of the 260 bighas of the common land allotted by the panchayat for plantations.

M C Lodha, mentor of MIP ana a renowned agricultral scientist. said such massive scale plantations are very good for nature and health. One Banyan tree releases oxygen for 24 hours; it also is home to hundreds of creatures and birds; checks soil erosion and makes the soil fertile.

He said instead of looking at the trees greedily, the villagers are looking at these from the point of view of health and environment.

The aftercare and maintenance of the Banyan saplings will be undertaken by the Panchayat.The NGO has gifted an electric pump and water pipes to draw water for the saplings that need a lot of care in the initial months.

MIP will keep monitoring the Mahavir Banyan Garden for five years till it takes shape of a mini-forest