28/05/2015
Dear Friends,
If you really want to experience an event of a lifetime, please join us on 5th June 2015 to celebrate the
"World Environment Day"
at 'Bhangwadi Maal' – Murbad
I request you all to take a break from the glamour of the city life and come close to the nature. Let your children not just study Environmental Education in school but actually have a first hand experience of the superb Bio Diversity that exists in our very own forests. Let them see that, so close to the city life, exists a different world…….
Far from the city life, there is a very quiet life that some people enjoy. A world of the ADIVASIS
Let your children come and see the flora and fauna that is found in the forests.
Two of my friends, Adv Indavi Tulpule and Adv Surekha Dalvi (rather my Gurus) have been working very quietly for these people for the last over 2 to 3 decades. You will not see their names nor photos even if you do a google search, as both of them are selfless women who have quietly working and have dedicated their lives for the cause of empowering tribals in the adivasi belt of Maharashtra.
On World Environment Day, their organization “ Shramik Mukti Sanghatana” with the help of Forest & Revenue department of Murbad have arranged a very different even called
' Hirvya Devachi Yatra' or ‘Festival of Green God’
Adivasis from 14 to 15 villages will be participating in this event. The event will have various cultural programs along with various competitions which are as follows,
1. Raan Bhajya Spardha : The women in these villages will cook various types of vegetables which are not the standard tomatoes & potatoes that we all eat. They will cook vegetables which are only grown in the forest.
The best recipe will get a cash prize of Rs 2000/-, Rs1000/- and Rs 500/-
2. Registering Bio Diversity : This is a group event : Registers have been given to groups 14 villages so far. Their task is to make note of the Bio Diversity that exists in their forest. The top 3 will be given cash prize of Rs 10000/-, Rs 5000 and Rs 3000/-
3. Vriksha Mitra : In this event, leaves from 100 odd trees will be put out. The participant who identifies maximum number of leaves with the tree will be given Cash prize of Rs 500/-, Rs 300 and Rs 200/-
4. Identifying Medicinal plants : There are various medicinal plants found in the forest which have a terrific medicinal effect. The adivasis treat most of their ailments with medicines prepared from the extracts of these plants. But they hold the secret very close to their chest. To encourage them, participants who bring and explain various plants / herbs and their medicinal value will be given evaluated and awarded cash prizes of Rs 2000/- , Rs 1000/- and Rs 500/-
How can you participate / help?
You can either contribute in terms of
1. Last year, Adv Indavi had given utensils made of iron (Kadhai etc) to all the ladies who participate in the event. This encourages them to cook in iron vessels to ensure that their body gets a good supply of iron. You can donate some innovative but useful gifts to these ladies
2. There will be a lot of children who could be coming along with their parents for this event. You can contribute some biscuits, chocolates or fruits. In Marathi we usually call it ‘KHAU’
3. Committing to some prizes from your end.
4. Contributing towards the expenses for the event as donations or sponsors.
5. Lions Club of Thane has donated a Bio Gas plant (worth about 15000/-) to one of the villages. Your organization can do something similar.
But what can be most encouraging is your participation. Please let us know if you would want to participate in this event.
Friends from the media : You may have been covering different events on the World Environment Day. But we will be thankful if you cover this unique event and take it to the masses. This will be an indirect appreciation to selfless work of people like Indavitai & Surekhatai. It will also encourage more people to hold such events across the country.
Indavitai & Surekhatai, I take a bow to your selfless work !
Please also see the FB page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Festival-of-Green-God/733934003384921
