.As I immerse myself in nostalgia, I remember my childhood and find myself lying on the lawn of my house, surrounded by its softness, playing with the grass blades and tiny wildflowers. Beyond the garden lies an endless expanse of towering deodar trees, providing a majestic backdrop to this green paradise.

My memories then wander to my grandparents’ house, a place that felt nothing short of magical to my younger self. Their backyard was a dreamlike orchard, brimming with fascinating trees, shrubs, and nature’s wonders Rows of mango trees stood proudly, and I remember helping my Nani separate the ripe ones while carefully wrapping the others in newspaper to help them ripen. Nearby, lemon trees bore bright yellow and green fruit, while tall papaya trees watched over the garden like gentle sentinels.
What always fascinated me were the touch-me-nots, seemingly shy and delicate, yet so enchanting in their presence. And not to forget, I can still vividly picture my Nani plucking cotton buds from the cotton tree, using them for her Diya during Pooja.

Those moments at my grandparent’s house were like wandering through an enchanted garden, where every tree, every shrub, and every flower had a story to tell. It was a space that nurtured my connection with nature and left an imprint that time has never erased. Even today, those memories remind me of the simple joys that shaped my love for the natural world.

I am posting this today on the auspicious occasion of the festival of Harela which is a significant festival celebrated in Uttarakhand, primarily in the Kumaon region. It marks the beginning of the sowing season. This makes me wonder how each individual’s connection to nature and greenery ultimately combines to form green spaces in the form of forests, agricultural fields, and landscapes.

The lush greenery that surrounds us today is the collective result of countless individual efforts towards nature. Each person’s small act, whether planting a tree, tending to a garden, or participating in a community afforestation drive, contributes to the creation and preservation of green spaces. Over time, these individual efforts have intertwined and multiplied, giving rise to the beautiful landscapes we cherish today.Forests, fields, and gardens are not created overnight; they are the result of countless acts of care, repeated across generations. Planting a tree, tending a garden, or nurturing a sapling may seem small, but together these gestures shape the world we inhabit.

This is what makes festivals like Harela important especially in times like today where we not only need to celebrate greenery but also acknowledge, preserve and nourish it.