Dehradun: Uttarakhand will celebrate the Harela Festival this year under a structured action plan for the first time. Forest Panchayats, in coordination with various government departments, have prepared a detailed strategy focusing on plantation, conservation, and community participation, with a target of planting one million saplings across the state.
Unlike previous years, the campaign will focus not only on planting trees but also on ensuring their survival through monitoring and sustained community involvement. Committees have been formed at both district and village levels, with 50% representation for women. Gram Panchayats, voluntary organisations, women’s groups, and schools will also be involved to transform the initiative into a mass movement.
The campaign has been integrated with the Central Government’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One Tree in Mother’s Name) initiative, encouraging citizens to plant and nurture a tree in honour of their mothers. Forest Panchayats will take this message to villages throughout the state.
Under the action plan, district magistrates will monitor implementation, while departmental officials and village heads will oversee plantation and conservation activities locally. Tree species will be selected according to local ecological conditions, and a time-bound implementation schedule has been prepared.
The Harela Festival will begin on 16 July and continue for one month, during which various programmes related to environmental conservation, tree plantation, and public awareness will be organised. The state-level inaugural event will be held in Almora.
