Van Mahotsav Day: Celebrate it by planting a sapling

India is a land of festivals. Likewise, it also has many festivals to celebrate the forests and trees. One such special festival dedicated to forests is Van Mahotsav Day or the Forest Day, which is celebrated from July 1 to July 7. It was started as a crusade with the aim to save Planet Earth.

This festival was started by KM Munshi in 1950, who was then serving as the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food. It aimed to motivate people and make them more aware about forest conservation and planting trees. It’s a week-long festival, which is celebrated on different days in different parts of India.
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As per the original aim, every citizen of India is expected to plant a sapling during the Van Mahotsav Week. It’s a festival of life, when awareness campaigns about benefits and protection of trees, and the harm caused by cutting down of trees are held. It is the festival of life.
How is Van Mahotsav Day celebrated?

As a part of celebrations throughout the country, afforestation drives are launched to ensure people understand the importance of forests, and the grave danger vanishing forest covers can pose.

In the name of globalisation and urbanisation of cities, trees are mostly considered as the major block as they come in the way of roads, flyovers, pavements, and roads. As such, people mostly resort to the easiest solution, i.e., to get rid of the trees altogether. With climate change a reality and such a scenario, there is a dire necessity of a festival that aims to restore the forest cover in the country.

1. When is Van Mahotsav celebrated?
   This special festival, Van Mahotsav Day or the Forest Day, is celebrated from July 1 to July 7.
2. Who started this festival?
   This festival was started by KM Munshi in 1950, who was then serving as the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food.
3. Why is it celebrated?
   It’s a festival of life, when awareness campaigns about benefits and protection of trees, and the harm caused by cutting down of trees are held. It is the festival of life.