Page 5 - Jan-Mar 2017

VOl. 14 No. 1
FORESTS AND FAITH

India has a long history of nature worship that continues even today. Patches of forests
designated as sacred groves are dedicated to deities or ancestral spirits. These sacred
groves vary from bamboo groves on the eastern coast to clumps of trees in the north
west to jungles in the tropical south to dense Himalayan forests in the north.
R. Yogesh Kumar and A. Ajit, Vishaka Valley School, Visakhapatnam; Archit Patel, X, Nachiketa S.S. School, Jabalpur
Illustration by: Ritika Chittoria, XI, All
SiKKiM GOa Saints Sr. Sec. School, Ajmer
local Name- Pandam local Name – devrai
all the sacred groves in sikkim are
attached to the local monasteries Known as Devrai or Devchirai (the
(gumpas), dedicated to the deities and forest of god), sacred groves have been
managed by the village community. Kabi protected by the local temples across sattari
is one of the largest groves. This is where the and sanguem taluka located on the foothills of
“blood brotherhood treaty” was signed western ghats. it is believed that betal guards the
between the lepcha Chief and bhutia village from evil spirits.
King in the 13th century.

KaRNataKa
RaJaStHaN
local Name - Oran local Name – devrakadu
locally known as Devrakadu (god’s forest), sacred
Oran is derived from the sanskrit word aranya, meaning groves continue to be maintained in their natural state
forest. in rajasthan water is scarce; the Oran has both amongst the coffee plantations. each village has at least
religious and ecological significance. Delineating an one devarakadu, with strict laws and taboos against
Oran is marked by a ceremony whereby ganga water or poaching and felling of trees. Jatakappa, bhutappa
saffron milk is poured around a specific area within the and Choudamma are some of the deities that are
forest, which is then declared to be an Oran or Dev bani worshipped here.
(god’s forest). This ceremony is called Doodh Jal or Kesar
Chaanta, and marks the boundaries of the sacred grove. Yana Cariyappa, VII, Presidency School, Bangalore North

uttaRaKHaND MaGic OF MaWPHLaNG

local Name - deo Bhumi situated in Meghalaya, this sacred grove is
uttarakhand has an age-old tradition of protecting protected by the god of the land- ‘u ba-
temple forests near villages, where deities are sa ryngkew’. it is cared for by the lyngdoh
worshipped. The vegetation in these groves is not clan. it is rich in bio-diversity.
allowed to be cut. sometimes, sudden dying of trees in
these forests are said to be bio-indicator of misfortune
for the villagers. The Chandika Devi sacred grove has
the temple of Devi at the centre of the grove. SacRED GROvES tODay

sacred groves are disappearing due to urbanisation,
KERaLa increasing population and depleting traditions. we can
local Name - Kavu preserve these groves by
Kavu or sarapkavu (abode of snakes) found in Kerala is • Spreading awareness about sacred groves.
dedicated to snake deities – Nagar and Nagayakshi. in • Encouraging local communities to care for these trees.
most of the sacred groves, the ‘Kaliyattam’ - a performing • Documenting the flora and fauna of these groves.
art is performed every year. S. Sai Gayatri , IX, Akshara School, Kakinada and Venkat Dheertaj, X,
Neharika. OT, X, Bharitya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
Hyderabad

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