Gorakhpur: “Planting trees is only the beginning. The real commitment lies in their care and conservation,” said President Droupadi Murmu, while launching Van Mahotsav 2025 in Gorakhpur on Monday. Marking the start of the week-long green campaign, the President planted a Rudraksha sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative during the inauguration of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu underscored the need for a sustained public movement towards protecting the environment. “Each sapling is a promise for a better future,” she noted, encouraging citizens to take personal responsibility in nurturing plantations.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with local officials and students. After the event, the President interacted with public representatives and toured an exhibition focused on medicinal plants and traditional healing systems.
Parallel to the launch event in Gorakhpur, Forest and Environment Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena led multiple Van Mahotsav activities in Lucknow. At Kukrail Forest, he inaugurated a ‘Triveni Van’, featuring the traditional triad of banyan, peepal, and neem trees, considered ecologically and spiritually significant. The Minister also opened an open-air gym, a yoga-meditation centre, and unveiled a Buddha statue at the site. Promoting eco-conscious values from birth, Dr. Saxena visited Veerangana Avantibai Women’s Hospital and presented ‘Green Gold Certificates’ to families of eight newborns. Each family received a moringa (sahjan) sapling, symbolizing a green beginning for their child’s life.
Van Mahotsav, celebrated annually in the first week of July, aims to deepen public engagement with forest conservation.
This year, the Uttar Pradesh government targets planting over 35 crore saplings as part of its ongoing green drive. The campaign will continue across all districts till July 7, with schools, hospitals, and public institutions actively participating.
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