Van Mahotsav Fortnight: Mass Tree Plantation Drive Held at Smriti Van, Rishikesh

Under the gentle canopy of the Shivalik foothills, Smriti Van once again became a stage for nature’s quiet revival. As part of the Van Mahotsav fortnight, forest officials, dedicated staff, volunteers from local social organizations, and eager trainees came together to plant medicinal saplings — each one a small promise made to the earth.
Environmentalist Vinod Prasad Juglan, founder of Smriti Van and regional environment coordinator for the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, spoke with quiet conviction. Van Mahotsav, he said, is not a ritual of the day — it is a philosophy that must outlast the planting itself. “Nurturing is greater than planting,” he reminded those gathered, a thought that lingered in the humid monsoon air long after the ceremony ended.
Forest Range Officer Gambhir Singh Dhamanda reflected on the journey — over 5,000 saplings have taken root here since Smriti Van’s inception, each surviving not by chance but by care. Under the Dehradun Divisional Forest Officer’s guidance, the site continues to transform, its beautification and conservation an ongoing labour of devotion.
Deputy DFO Anil Singh Rawat’s words of appreciation for Juglan echoed what many in Rishikesh already know — that one person’s persistence can grow into a forest that shelters generations to come.