Bangalore: A tree-planting drive was organised on Raksha Bandhan Day this year by Green Circle, Bangalore. 100 native saplings were planted to mark the occasion. Besides, a Puja was held as the venue chosen was a temple, and some religious trees were planted. One of our youngest volunteers, Ponmalar planted a sapling and tied a Rakhi to it. She also tied another Rakhi to a grown-up tree to mark the Raksha Bandhan. ‘For me, this tree is like my brother, and today I tied the Rakhi symbolically because trees protect us and give us oxygen, besides many other benefits.

It is trees that protect us. Ramachandra, a resident, added, ‘All Hindu festivals have their links to nature in one way or another. It is time for us to celebrate all festivals close to nature.  Roopa Sri of Jeevan Mukthi supplied all native trees, namely Kadamba, Amla, Neem, Teak, Soap nut, Avocado, Pongamia, Silk cotton, Peepal, Champak, Mahogany, Palm, Banyan, Arjuna, Jackfruit, Clove, and Oleander trees. She added, ‘Green Circle volunteers have given enough space between saplings to ensure their dense growth. More interestingly they have ensured water supply and tree guards for protection. I will visit this place periodically to give suggestions and participate in nurturing the trees’. Vasanth Kumar, Kumar Kalyandurg, Sandip, Ramachandra, Vidya, Veerapathrappa, Karthikeyan, Ponmalar, Dewan Gowda, Biju, and Muniappa were among the volunteers who participated in the program. Selvarajan, Chairman of Green Circle, thanked Jeevan Mukthi team, the RWAs of MSR NE County, BEL Layout, Panchayat Council Members of Singanayakkanahalli Panchayat, other volunteers from Rotary club Paramaguru, and Dinesh. Members dropped compost also to ensure faster growth, besides support sticks