Devotees also offer ‘vriksh daan’ for clean environment

Prayagraj: Pind daan during Pitru Paksha or Shradh is a common practice among Hindus during the 15-day period when they pray for the salvation of their ancestors. But, along with this now, people are also going in for “vriksh daan” (planting saplings or donation of plants) to spread the message of environment protection.
The initiative is a brainchild of Paryavaran Sena – a Pratapgarh-based NGO working for the cause of environment.
Head of the NGO Ajay Krantikari told TOI: “Every year thousands visit Gaya, Varanasi and Prayagraj during Pitru Paksha to perform rituals. This year, our volunteers interacted and convinced many families from Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh to plant a sapling before any ritual in the memory of their ancestors.”
Many devotees in the region have already planted saplings of Jamun, Gular and guava.
“We provide saplings particularly of shade giving and fruit-bearing trees among devotees to be planted at their villages, blocs and cities as we are reaping the benefits of such trees planted by our ancestors. Now, we too have the same responsibility towards our posterity,” he said.
Krantikari added such initiatives will also help increase green cover.
In line with this, Harishchandra Tiwari along with his wife Pushpa Devi on Tuesday planned a sapling at their native village Bhawanipur in Mandhata block before starting their journey for Gaya to pay homage to their ancestors.
The couple first performed “tarpan” activity and then performed vriksh daan calling it “Harit Shradhanjali”.
They also encouraged others to plant saplings.
A senior forest official said: “Residents should come forward to get more and more saplings planted in their respective areas to get clean and pure air. This initiative by Paryavaran Sena is commendable.”