Jai Hariyali Jai Khush-hali
Friendship Day 2011
On the 7th of August 2011 the Bal Bhavan Jaipur family celebrated friendship day in keeping with the best traditions of India. The message for this celebration was one of harmonious co existence with nature. Volunteers, facilitators and students planted 101 trees around the perimeter of the Bal Bhavan Jaipur campus and each tree has been adopted by a student volunteer who shall ensure its growth and safety.
Although this is an annual tradition at Bal Bhavan Jaipur, this year was special as 7th August 2011 was the death anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Shantiniketan has always celebrated this occasion with a plantation drive and this year we were fortunate to have followed in their footsteps.
Anguished over the ever expanding urban sprawl, young and old alike came together to renew their bond of friendship with Mother Nature and trees in particular. Each tree was individually selected for its ornamental value, medicinal value or utility. The new green belt girdling Bal Bhavan Jaipur includes Neem, Champa, Arjun and Kachnar among many others. This plantation drive was made possible by the enthusiastic and benevolent support of local residents and senior volunteers. It is hoped that the hands on experience that the children shall derive out of the planting and subsequent upkeep of these plants shall encourage them to spread this message of friendship in and around their schools and homes.
