Harela Festival

• 06 Jul 2022

Why in News?

On July 4, 2022, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said in a meeting held at Manthan Auditorium in the Forest Headquarters premises that like previous years, Harela festival would be celebrated across the state with gaiety on July 16 this year too.

Key Points

• The Forest Minister said that this time the plants will be selected according to the geographical and environmental conditions of the area. For this, plants and techniques will be made available by the Forest Department.
• During this, the Forest Department has set a target of planting more than 15 lakh saplings across the state. Under this, for the first time more than 50 percent fruit trees will be planted on this festival.
• Emphasis will be laid on increasing the participation of schools, colleges and forest panchayats on Harela festival. After planting saplings, they should remain alive and in the coming times, efforts will be made for this to benefit the society.
• With a view to strengthen the forest panchayats, this time fruitful plantation is being promoted, so that in future the livelihood of the people there can be linked to them.
• The Forest Minister said that Police Forest and Mera Van would be developed across the state. Under this, this responsibility will be assigned to schools, colleges and all departments. People will be able to plant saplings in these gardens in the name of themselves, relatives and the deceased. The responsibility of keeping these plants alive and grooming will also be given to the person concerned.