Pushing for Environmental protection and safeguarding natural resources, preventing pollution, and restoring the ecosystem, a Lucknow-based social organisation on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) distributed over 45,000 eco-friendly green leaf plates and 5,000 saplings/plants at various locations in the city, sensitising people to the need for sustainable development.
The initiative on Tuesday (May 12) by the organisation named Panchtatva, led by environmental activist Shipra Pathak, captured the attention of the city with this green initiative. Starting early in the morning, volunteers from the Panchtatva organisation fanned out across different parts of the capital in vehicles, distributing leaf plates and saplings at the Bhandaras (free community meal) organised to mark the occasion of Bada Mangal.
At several prominent locations, including Burlington Crossing, devotees were presented with saplings as sacred offerings. “Throughout this process, a palpable sense of enthusiasm regarding the saplings was observed among the devotees,” said Ms. Pathak, who urged people not to view these saplings merely as plants, but to cherish and nurture them as Prasad (sacred food) bestowed by Lord Hanuman.
She emphasised that a single sapling planted today would provide clean oxygen to children and future generations in the years to come, while also contributing to the maintenance of ecological balance. She appealed to the public to take a pledge on the occasion to plant at least five saplings and commit to their proper care.
“The objective of the organisation extends beyond simply distributing saplings; it aims to cultivate a sense of sensitivity and reverence toward nature within the hearts of the people. Several social institutions and voluntary organisations have also joined this campaign, thereby bolstering the broader movement for environmental conservation.
Today, the use of approximately 8,000 plastic plates was successfully averted, and they were replaced with eco-friendly leaf plates. This initiative is expected to reduce plastic pollution and, through the medium of religious festivities, foster greater environmental awareness within society,” Ms. Pathak added.
During the campaign, Krishna Gopal, a senior activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), also arrived and personally distributed eco-friendly leaf plates and saplings. Mr. Gopal said environmental conservation is the paramount necessity of our times, and added that integrating religious festivities with nature conservation is an endeavour that steers society in a positive direction.