Laxminarayan College Marks ‘Tree Birthday’ with Sacred Rituals and Fresh Plantation Drive in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda: In a heartwarming and eco-conscious initiative, Laxminarayan College, Jharsuguda celebrated the first birthday of trees planted during last year’s plantation drive. The event was not only a tribute to the previous year’s efforts but also a reaffirmation of the college’s commitment to sustainability, as a fresh plantation drive was also launched on the same day.

The celebration featured traditional rituals where the trees were worshipped symbolically—decorated with flowers, sandalwood paste, rice, vermilion, and cloth. Vedic mantras were chanted during the ceremony, followed by the distribution of sweets among attendees. The event struck a perfect balance between environmental awareness and cultural reverence, promoting the message that tree plantation is not a one-time act but a long-term responsibility.

Dignitaries, volunteers, and students actively participated in planting new saplings within the college campus, carrying forward the mission of creating a greener and healthier environment. The programme was organized through the collaborative efforts of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Youth Red Cross, NCC, Swami Vivekananda Loka Sansad (Jharsuguda branch), Jharsuguda Forest Department, and Ehita Jeevan Bhi Foundation.

Several notable figures graced the occasion, including Gobinda Chandra Sahu, Principal of the College; Biswajit Khamari, President of Swami Vivekananda Loka Sansad; Saroj Kumar Kuanr, Former Principal of Women’s College, Jharsuguda; Laldhari Singh, NSS Coordinator; Manish Kumar Dwivedi, Red Cross Coordinator; Manasi Panda and Antaryami Panigrahi from Ehita Jeevan Bhi Foundation; Swarnamayi Purohit, Faculty Member; Sarat Chandra Choudhury, Retired Principal; Bijay Kumar Pradhan, Forest Ranger of Jharsuguda Forest Division; and Tapan Kumar Barik, Faculty Member.

The programme drew overwhelming participation from students, local intellectuals, and environmental enthusiasts. The celebration of the tree birthday was widely appreciated by the community as an innovative and impactful step toward nurturing a culture of environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability.

This inspiring initiative beautifully blended ecological awareness with cultural tradition, reinforcing the idea that caring for nature is both a duty and a celebration.