Sikh Environment Day on March 14 gradually turns into a crusade

AMRITSAR: Applying the term cleanliness is godliness, literally, into the real world and combining the concept of religion with environment and managing to get convincing results, Sikh Environment Day (SED), which is celebrated every year on March 14, has gradually turned into a crusade.

Last edition of Sikh Environment Day had volunteers distributing cloth bags in Amritsar.

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 6

Applying the term cleanliness is godliness, literally, into the real world and combining the concept of religion with environment and managing to get convincing results, Sikh Environment Day (SED), which is celebrated every year on March 14, has gradually turned into a crusade. The idea of SED was conceived in 2010 by EcoSikh, a global non-profit organisation, to celebrate the Gurta Gaddi Diwas of the seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai, as a day of celebrating nature and being in harmony with the environment. So, every year, for the past six years, volunteers, Sikh organisations and NGOs join hands in carrying out a series of eco-activities leading up to the SED.

This year, green activities have already begun with pan Punjab focus and participation. “We have started with flower shows, cycle rallies for awareness across several districts in Punjab and we are collaborating with a team of Basis of Sikhi, a global NGO, for more eco-awareness activities in five states. The aim is to get as many people involved in our efforts to save the environment and heritage and through religion, the message becomes all the more accessible and convincing,” says Ravneet Singh, South Asia project manager, EcoSikh. The organisation’s city chapter, EcoAmritsar, is collaborating with several schools and colleges for seminars and green activities while cleanliness and plantation drives are also on the cards.

Gurdwaras, educational institutions and communities will organise a host of awareness events including seminars, katha, processions, assemblies, tree plantation and cleanliness drives in solidarity with environmental concerns on the day. Manmeet Kaur, a student of psychology at GNDU and a volunteer spearheading the activities for Basis of Sikhi, says that in Amritsar, emphasis will be on engaging young people. “Schools and colleges will be covered under our awareness programmes and we will be looking to find more volunteers, who would spread the message.”

The purpose, says Ravneet, for having a single day dedicated to community-eco programmes, is that it connects faith with sustainable living. “Over the years, through SED, we have managed to initiate projects like the serving of organic langar at Golden Temple, organising green nagar kirtans that shun use of Styrofoam or plastic products, carrying out cleanliness programmes in villages across Punjab and most importantly, revival of Guru ka Bagh or sacred gardens at Nabha Saheb, Patta Heera Singh near Moga and Naulakha Garden, at the birth place of Sri Guru Har Rai, Gurdwara Sheeshmehal Sahib in Kiratpur Sahib. In Amritsar, we managed to begin with organic farmer’s market, which is gradually picking up.”

Apart from these eco-activities, the volunteers will also distribute buta prasad or saplings as holy food to people.