Gujarat uses astrology to promote plantation.htm

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Gujarat uses astrology to promote plantationGujarat uses astrology to promote

plantation

Author: Sajid Shaikh, Times News Network

Publication: The Times of India

February 14, 2002

If you are an Aries, plant 'amla' (emblica officinalis) and 'garmado' (cassia

fistula). For Leos, the choice is 'peepal' (ficus religiose) and 'asopalav'

(polyalthia longifolia) and for the moody cancerian 'ashoka' (saraca indica) and

'kher' (acacia catechu) are the most beneficial.

 

When first mooted, the idea of relating sun signs and planets with trees, like

lucky gemstones, was considered preposterous. But the plan to use astrology as a

vehicle to promote plantations has worked wonders.

 

In Bhayli village, Tribhovan Solanki is a happy man today. A year after he

planted his lucky 'asopalav' tree, lady luck smiled on him. "For five years I

was planning to marry off my two daughters. Nothing was happening, but within a

year of planting the tree, both my daughters got married and are happy. My son

Gopal was jobless, now he is working in a factory as fabricator. I do not have

any health problems for about six months now," Mr. Solanki said.

 

"An elderly friend told me about lucky plants. He had got a chart from the

social forestry department. A local astrologer after looking at the chart and

comparing it with mine suggested I should plant Asopalav. I did so and am very

happy today," Mr. Solanki says. He is now telling the story of his Asopalav to

other.

 

He is not the only one who believes that the planting of a tree has turned the

wheel of fortune and brought happiness. There are scores of them in vicinity of

Vadodara. In Savli, Padra, Dabhoi and other talukas where plantation drives were

kicked off, many families have started considering trees as lucky charms.

 

"We pray to tulsi. So when I heard about lucky plants I did not think twice

and got myself a Peepal sapling," says Suresh Patel of Pansoli village. A Virgo,

Mr. Patel has also induced his relatives to believe in the mystic powers of

trees. "I know some astrology myself Even in Vedas there is . mention of the

healing powers of plants. It is logical that they influence our fate," Mr. Patel

says. This idea is being favoured by botanists and environmentalists, besides

astrologers and the social forestry division here, which mooted it.

 

According to the head of botany department at M.S. University, professor G.P

Senan, "It reinforces the ancient belief that plants are like Gods. In the

South, for instance- every temple will have a groove of trees considered sacred.

Of the same emotion of attaching religious significance to plants is catching

up, mostly in rural areas".

 

Bolstered by the support from rural areas, the social forestry division plans

to push further its astrological plantation concept. "The response has been very

good. Of the 1 lakh saplings that we had distributed in the district, about

25-30 per cent are healthy growing. Ibis is a good survival rate. Besides in our

field trips we have come across instances where trees are now being looked upon

as good omen bringing luck stars," said deputy conservator of forests (social

forestry) Ramesh Patel.

 

He said his division would continue to popularise plants as luck bearing

entities bringing and prosperity. "There is reason to believe this theory.

Ancient scriptures and religious books mention about plants' correlation with

planets and their direct influence on human beings. So does science," Mr. Patel

said.

 

 

 

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