On Sunday, July 27, 2025, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the 76th Van Mahotsav celebration at Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University, Jaipur, underscoring India’s timeless cultural reverence for nature and forest conservation. The state inaugurated an ambitious afforestation drive, aiming to plant 10 crore trees within this year alone as part of the larger five-year ‘Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan’ with a target of 50 crore trees.
The campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, encourages people to plant saplings in their mother’s names, nurturing them with care. Over 2.5 crore saplings were reportedly planted in a single day during this event, marking a record for the state and reflecting active involvement from government departments, local communities, youth groups, NGOs, and environmental activists. CM Sharma also led a parallel plantation event later in Sikar district, emphasising wide statewide participation.
Record-Breaking Plantations and Mass Community Engagement
Rajasthan’s 2025 Van Mahotsav set a new milestone by planting over 2.5 crore saplings in a single day—surpassing last year’s 2 crore saplings planted on the same occasion and building on the cumulative 7 crore trees planted since the inception of ‘Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan’ last year. The Chief Minister urged citizens to treat planted trees like family members, advocating that everyone plant at least one sapling in their mother’s name and care for it attentively—an act combining personal affection with ecological responsibility.
The event saw the launch of 22 urban forests across university campuses and city spaces, integrating modern techniques such as drone-assisted seed planting to enhance coverage and efficiency. The planting drive also focused on over 12,000 saplings of medicinal and culturally significant species, fostering biodiversity alongside afforestation.
The Amrita Devi Award, named after a legendary environmentalist, was bestowed upon dedicated individuals and organisations for their exemplary forest and wildlife conservation efforts. Participants ranged from government officials, environmentalists, cadets from the NCC and Scouts, students, NGOs, to ordinary citizens, reflecting a broad-based, inclusive movement.
A Blend of Tradition and Forward-Looking Environmental Strategy
Van Mahotsav, India’s annual forest festival dating back to 1950, symbolises the nation’s philosophical and spiritual ties with forests, seen in ancient epics where trees and forests were revered as places of sanctuary, learning, and harmony. Rajasthan’s ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ campaign harmonises this heritage with pressing modern ecological imperatives, ambitiously targeting 50 crore trees over five years to significantly boost the state’s green cover.
This initiative complements other state programmes such as the ‘One District One Species’ scheme, which promotes the planting of native flora to maintain ecological balance, and the ₹250-crore Aravalli Green Development Project focusing on soil conservation and afforestation in major desert districts like Barmer and Jaisalmer.
The campaign’s alignment with Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign creates a culturally resonant narrative that motivates individuals, linking environmental responsibility with family values and national pride. CM Sharma’s outreach to districts like Sikar further underscores the mission’s rural and regional inclusivity.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Rajasthan Van Mahotsav 2025 and the ‘Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan’ exemplify how environmental revival must intricately connect with cultural values, community empowerment, and innovative practices. At The Logical Indian, we celebrate such initiatives that translate nature’s timeless wisdom into tangible action, inspiring millions to participate actively in healing the planet. Planting a tree in one’s mother’s name is a powerful symbol of nurturing, respect, and intergenerational care, inviting everyone to embrace ecological stewardship as a personal and collective commitment.
However, true success demands sustained effort, education, and policy support that ensure survival and growth of planted saplings, along with systemic attention to protecting existing forests and biodiversity. This campaign represents an optimistic model of how tradition and modernity, government and civil society, individual and community can unite for environmental and social harmony.
