The Day of Green
In the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand, the monsoon arrives with Harela, a festival whose name literally means “Day of Greenery”. Celebrated around July 16th to mark the start of the holy month of Shravan, Harela is deeply connected to agriculture
and the deities Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. For farming communities, it signals the beginning of the sowing season, a time of hope for a bountiful harvest. The rituals begin about ten days prior, when families sow seeds of five or seven types of grains in baskets. On the day of the festival, these vibrant green shoots are cut and placed on the heads of family members by elders as a blessing for prosperity. But beyond these household rituals, Harela has another profound tradition: the planting of saplings, an act that connects the festival directly to environmental conservation.
The Problem with 'Planting by Numbers'
Across the country, governments and organisations launch massive plantation drives, often with headline-grabbing targets of planting crores of saplings. These initiatives are meant to help India meet its climate goals, including the creation of a massive carbon sink. However, the reality on the ground is often bleak. Many of these drives are criticised for being a “numbers game,” focusing on achieving targets rather than ensuring the long-term survival of the trees. Survival rates can be shockingly low, sometimes as little as 5%, due to a host of problems. These include the selection of non-native species, planting in unsuitable locations like grasslands, poor post-planting care, and a complete lack of community ownership. As a result, many initiatives amount to “ghost plantations,” wasting public money and failing to deliver any real ecological benefits.
The Harela Difference: Ownership and Ecology
This is where the Harela model offers a compelling alternative. Unlike a top-down government campaign, planting a sapling during Harela is a personal or community-led act of devotion and hope. This fosters a sense of ownership that is critical for the sapling's survival. Families often plant fruit-bearing or useful local tree species that they will have a vested interest in nurturing. The timing is also perfect, coinciding with the monsoon, which gives the saplings the best possible chance to establish roots. The festival isn’t about meeting a target; it's about continuing a tradition that sees the well-being of the family and community as interconnected with the health of the land. This approach embodies the principles of successful community-led conservation, which research shows is more effective and sustainable in the long run.
From Regional Tradition to National Lesson
The solution is not to replicate the Harela festival across India, but to learn from its underlying wisdom. The festival demonstrates the power of integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into modern climate action. For centuries, indigenous and local communities have developed sustainable practices rooted in a deep understanding of their environment. National climate policies often overlook this invaluable knowledge, favouring techno-centric, non-participatory approaches that frequently fail. The success of Harela's sapling tradition lies in its cultural resonance and community participation. By empowering local communities, involving them in decision-making, and respecting their knowledge, conservation efforts can become far more resilient and effective. Instead of simply planting trees, we need to cultivate a culture of care, where every sapling is a shared responsibility, not just another number in a report.
