Trees are the life-line for existence. Their contribution to the well being and sustenance of the world is unquestionable. Today our country’s forest cover is depleting at an escalating
pace. Pollution is a fast-rising problem, water resources are vanishing and our flora and fauna are facing total annihilation.

Our ancient system of revering and respecting every creation on the universe as sacred was the most effective way of ensuring their protection. Each temple had Stala vrikshas that were planted and nurtured in these sacred spaces in accordance with the presiding Deity, the geography of the land and the scientific need of the place and its people. Each temple
had a Nandana Vana that was a garden of trees, flowers, creepers and plants that were needed for temple worship.
Nandana Vana’s hardly exist today.

The concept of Devara Kaadu / Sacred groves especially in Karnataka and Kerala have helped preserve bio-diversity to a great extent.

The Heritage Drive and Tree Planting

The Heritage Drive will give the participants an opportunity to green the Earth Mother and nurture her by planting trees in
sacred spaces and on -route too.

The heritage drive will attempt to revive this ancient tradition by sourcing the Sthala vriksha of the temples and plant them along
with Native Indian trees like mango, jackfruit, nerale, lemon, champaka, nagalinga pushpa, honge, arali, audambara, and
neem.

The Heritage Drive will also create a tree trail by planting trees on the entire route of the 1000 km rally.

The organizers are sourcing tree saplings that are already a year or two old to ensure that the tree grows with minimal care.