Janak Didi celebrated 39th "Raksha-Bandhan" by planting 54 saplings

Since 1986, like the last 38 years, on 19 August 2024, Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan (Janak Didi), Director of Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development, celebrated her 39th "Raksha-Bandhan" festival with her Rakhi brother Rajendra Ochani by planting a sapling on Dutni mountain behind her house Giridarshan in Sanawadiya. On the day of Indian festival, Raksha-Bandhan, the sister ties a Rakhi on her brother's wrist, which symbolizes the sacred relationship/bond between brother and sister. The brother promises to protect his sister. Janak Didi celebrates this "Raksha-Bandhan" festival by planting saplings to protect all beings . The program started with Dr.Neerja Pauranik praying for God's blessings, peace and harmony l. Janak Didi started with recitation of Baha'i holy writings and prayer in Praise of God and Nature .THis was followed by saplings. Everyone together planted 54 Karanj saplings. On this occasion, Janak Didi narrated her interesting abot her Raakhi brother and planting saplings on the day of Rakhi for the last 38 years. It started in 1986 with Janak Didi in the Malwa Express train journey from Indore to Delhi. A Sindhi brother Rajender Ochani (who is seen planting saplings with Janak Didi in this photo) was inspired by Didi's dedicated service work to tribal girls .. After returning, he used to go to meet her with his wife Jyoti and in 1986, a week before Rakhi, he requested Didi to be her Rakhi Sister she agreed very easily. But the gift he asked for was very unusual and unexpected ! Jyoti Bhabhi very casually asked Didi whether she liked suit or saree (more in the context of Rakhi) So this environment loving Janak Didi asked for a tree sapling as a Rakhi gift and said, “Suit, saree, brother and sister all die one day”. But trees live forever, they give us oxygen, shade, fruits! From there, both of us brother sister together planted the first sapling in the Barli Institute land 'Bahai Bhawan Bhamori', and since then the practice of planting trees has continued till today.”. In Indore, since 1986, her Rakhi brother Rajender Ochani and Didi's environment loving fellow brother-sister together celebrated Rakshabandhan in the Barli institute and made it green till 2011. After retiring from there, she became a resident of village Sanawadiya. Then like all the past years, on the auspicious occasion of 39th Raksha Bandhan, Rakhi celebrated her birthday and Raksha Bandhan by planting trees on Dutani hill just behind her residence Girirshan in village Sanawadiya. Because trees protect us and all living beings. If trees and plants remain, then brothers, sisters and the world will remain. On this day, environment is protected by planting trees collectively. Every year, with Janak Didi, the number of VrikshamTree lovers is increasing. Janak Didi's 39th Rakhi celebrations were attended by 9 members of Chandak family from Maharashtra, Dhule and Jalgaon, 30 brothers and sisters from Indore, Sanawadiya and nearby villages, and friends of trees included Rajendra Ochani, Nanda and Rajendra Chauhan, Dr. Neerja Puranik, social worker Manorama Menon (wife), Padmashri Kutti Menon ji, Dr. Usha Ukande Principal Nursing College, Solar Engineer Susumita Bhattacharya ji, educationist Bharti Batra with her entire family, Prof. Rajiv Sangal (Retd.) Director IIT BHU and Triple IIT Hyderabad, his wife Smt. Nisha Sangal, sister Renu Gupta, Mrs. Debjani Patra, member Narmada Control Authority, Bharat Jat IT Professional, Nilesh Master of Social Work, Puja, Didi's intern Tuhina, her sister doctor, tree lover Praneet and Srishti, local neighbor Mr. Indra Bhandari along with his own son - Bharat Bhandari, daughter Mamta her husband, young Mahendra Dhakad and Yogita Dhakad have been saving the environment with Janak Didi in Sanawadiya for more than 13 years after she settled here. Didi expressed her gratitude to all and gave special thanks to Yogendra Kemp for photography.