Villagers at the paryavaran mela at Dudhmatia forest in Hazaribagh on Tuesday and (right) Mahadev Mahto. Pictures by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Hazaribagh, Oct. 7: More than 20,000 people turned up at Dudhmatia forest in Tatijharia, some 32km from the Hazaribagh district headquarters, on Tuesday to tie love knots on trees and take a pledge to save them.

No, it was not raksha bandhan, but continuation of a tradition started by environmentalist Mahadev Mahto 19 years ago.

Like every year, Mahto, a retired English teacher, organised the popular paryavaran mela or environment fair in the forest at Vishnugarh with active support from the forest department to spread awareness about the need to protect one’s surroundings.

Present were several dignitaries, including state excise minister Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, who inaugurated the fair, and vice chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University Gurdeep Singh.

Mahto, who has been felicitated by the state government and various organisations for his noble works, tied knots on trees with a pledge to protest them along with forest officials, government employees and social workers.

“I started this campaign to save trees way back on October 7, 1995, with support from a handful number of villagers. Now this raksha bandhan event in Dudhmatia has turned into a big, annual affair witnessing a footfall of no less than 10,000. Today, 20,000 people came, which is very commendable,” said the 62-year-old green crusader.

He added that the large-scale felling of trees had prompted him to do something to safeguard them.

“I used to see villagers axing trees. This disturbed me and I soon started urging people of Vishnugarh and Tatijharia not to cut trees and instead save them.

“Initially, I didn’t get much support but soon, people from different villages started coming with me to the forest. My raksha bandhan for trees is getting good response from other districts as well and I plan to work with the same spirit in the future as well,” he said.

Inaugurating the fair, excise minister Patel heaped praises on Mahto.

“When he (Mahto) started this programme in 1995, very few people supported him. Today, everyone knows about the paryavaran mela. In fact, people from other parts of the state come to be a part of this unique initiative. The time has come when all should realise the importance of conserving forests,” Patel said.

Vice chancellor Singh also hailed the initiative.