Mayurbhanj, besides celebrating Raksha Bandhan in the usual, traditional way on the Rakhi Purnima Day, has also observed the festival in an environment-friendly and environment-promoting manner. Environmentalists, forest department officials, jungle-dwellers and nature-lovers came forward together to celebrate the "Jungle Raksha Bandhan" in a remote village of the district on Sunday.
A simple and solemn function was held at Hatimada village of Suliapada Block to mark the occasion, which witnessed people tying rakhis around the trunks of trees. Baripada Division DFO Santosh Joshi, 'SPARDA' secretary Bibekanand Pattnaik, Assistant Conservators of Forests Nikesh Mohapatra and Samaresh Bishwal took the lead in the activities, while Deuli Range Officer Ravi Narayan Mohanty and residents of Hatimada, Kankini, Chauladahani, Keutunimari, Pakatia, Kalajhari and Gandiadiha took active part.
The programme was jointly organised by Suliapada Anchalik Jungle Suraksha Mahasangh, NGO 'SPARDA' and forest department employees. An awareness was created on the importance of environment and conservation of forests among the large numbers of villagers, who were present there on the occasion.
This tribal, forest-infested district, it may be mentioned, has been observing the Jungle Raksha Bandhan Utsav since 2004. And its purpose is to develop harmony between humans and forests and to promote mutual love and respect between individuals and the environment.