Hazaribag: Forest personnel and villagers celebrated Raksha Bandhan in a unique way at Hedum panchayat in Chatra district on Friday, tying rakhis to trees and pledging to protect forests.Participants applied tilak to trees, tied sacred threads around their trunks and raised awareness about forest and environmental conservation. Traditional drumbeats added to the festive atmosphere as residents treated trees as symbols of the brother-sister bond.Forest guards Sunil Kumar and Amit Kumar urged villagers to actively participate in forest conservation. “Trees are vital for human life, and protecting forests is not solely the forest department’s responsibility. It is the duty of every member of society,” they said.They added that conserving forests would help maintain ecological balance and ensure clean air and a healthier environment for future generations.Hedum mukhiya Santosh Ram said tying rakhis to trees symbolised people’s love, respect and responsibility towards the environment. “Just as brothers pledge to protect their sisters on Raksha Bandhan, people must pledge to protect trees and forests,” he said.Villagers also vowed to prevent forest fires and illegal tree felling and plant more trees.
