Van Mahotsav

was simultaneously celebrated in a number of states in India. Since then, thousands of saplings of diverse species
are planted with energetic participation of the locals and
various agencies like the forest department.

Amrit Kaur planting a tree at Rajghat, New Delhi, on 15 July

1950, in celebration of Van Mahotsava.

Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting festival in India,

celebrated in the rst week of July. This movement was
initiated in the year 1950 by Indias then Union Minister
for Agriculture, Kulapati Dr.K M Munshi.
This festival has gained immense national importance and
every year, millions of saplings are planted all across India
in observation of the Van Mahotsav week.
It is expected that every citizen of India has to plant a
sapling in the Van Mahotsav week. It helps spread awareness amongst people about the harm caused by the cutting down of trees.People celebrate Van Mahotsava by
planting trees or saplings in homes, oces, schools, colleges, etc. Awareness campaigns are held at various levels. Novel promotions like free circulation of trees are
also taken up by various organizations and volunteers.
The planting of trees during the festival serves various
purposes like providing alternative fuel, increase production of food resources, helps create shelter-belts around
elds to increase productivity, provide food for cattle, offers shade and decorative landscapes, helps conserves soil
deterioration, etc. The festival educates the awareness
of trees among people and portrays the need of planting
and tending of trees, as trees are one of the best ways to
prevent global warming and reduce pollution. Van Mahotsava is celebrated as a festival of life. In India it was
started as a crusade to save mother earth. The name Van
Mahotsava means the festival of trees. It began in July
1947 after a ourishing tree planting drive was undertaken in Delhi, in which national leaders like Dr Rajendra
Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru participated. The festival
1