30/03/2025
IMCTF organises Prakriti Vandan on the last Sunday of the August to mark the puniya tithi of Amrita Devi who laid down her life to save trees from being cut down.
In 1730 Raja Abhay Singh, the King of Mewar ordered his soldiers to collect wood for his new palace. When his soldiers lead by Girdhar Bhandari reached Jehnad to cut trees Amrita Devi prevented them from felling the trees, she and her three daughters hugged the trees and announced that they would rather die than allow them to cut the trees. They were beheaded for resistance.
The news spread like wild fire and Bishnois from 83 villages assembled on the spot, prepared to give their lives for this cause and 363 of them lost their lives in resisting the tree felling. This is known as *‘Khejrali Massacre’.*
IMCTF Requests Schools to Celebrate 🌳🌳*Prakriti Vandan* 🙏🙏
Mother Earth has always been generous with gifts which we have been taking for granted. Societies that live in harmony with nature nourishes and prosper. But for last few decades due to urbanisation,over exploitation of natural resources and deforestation- we face a new climate crisis that disrupts our lives. The need of the hour is to implant values in our future generations so that they understand the importance of our environment and balanced ecology.
There is an urgent need to take remedial measures, the most important being preserving existing trees and planting new saplings to save our present as well as our future.
With your tacit support IMCTF has been organising Prakriti Vandan every year to inculcate respect and reverence towards our nature.
IMCTF appeals to all schools to come forward and take oath to save our planet and plant as many trees as possible.
Schools can organise Vandan in the school in the last week of August or can ask their students to perform Vandan at their respective homes with their families and send us few photographs on
[email protected]
*Steps for Vandan*
1. Sit near a plant/tree with your family and water the plant.
2. Light a diya and doop /aggarbatti near it
3. Apply tilak and akshat (rice) on the plant/tree .
4. Tie a Raksha Sutra around the plant/tree and pledge that you'll plant, take care and save as many plants/trees as possible *to make a pollution free world*
We look forward to your participation and the photos as these will give us a sense of inculcating important values to our students.
Thanks and regards,
IMCTF Team
