Category Archives: Sacred grove

“Our kaavus (sacred grounds) are central to our culture. But many have been encroached upon and disappeared. Adivasi Munnetra Sangam has done a survey of all Kaavus and burial grounds and is petitioning the government to officially recognize them.” – Adivasi Munnetra Sangam (photo caption, 2017 calendar)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=21811

“The practice of religious rituals, ceremonies and sanctions by specific cultural groups allow such sacred landscapes to be maintained, emphasizing that humans are intrinsically part of the ecosystem. Taboos, codes and customs specific to activities and community members restrict access to most sacred groves.” – Nazir A. Pala, Ajeet K. Neg and N.P. Todaria in “The Religious, Social and Cultural Significance of Forest Landscapes in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India” (International Journal of Conservation Science, Vol. 5, Issue 2, April-June 2014)
https://www.academia.edu/32265911
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=24271

“Sacred groves are patches of forest, water bodies, grasslands considered to be inhabited by gods and hence, strictly prohibited from resource extraction. – “Role of Sacred Groves and their current status in adivasi society” (Adivasi.net Newsletters, No. 31 2011)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=1987

“One of the finest examples of traditional practices in India based on religious faith which has made a profound contribution to nature conservation has been the maintenance of certain patches of land or forests as ‘sacred groves’.” – Dr S.M. Nair (former Director of the National Museum of Natural History) in “Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel”
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=20948

“When women from the household would work at the loom, their designs would emerge from their world view, understanding of oral traditions, folktales, the surrounding sacred groves, and more.” – Meeta Deka (Professor and former Head, Dept. of History at Gauhati University), quoted by Avantika Bhuyan (livemint.com, 1 December 2017)
https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/FR23TDZqwz1hDYOlB5mRSN/Folklore-myths-and-handloom.html
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=23691

“Sacred natural sites may well be some of the last strongholds for building resilient networks of connected landscapes.” – Manjusha Misra (School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, International Journal of Environmental Studies), reviewing Sacred Natural Sites: Conserving Nature and Culture (Routledge, 2010)
https://www.routledge.com/Sacred-Natural-Sites-Conserving-Nature-and-Culture/Verschuuren-Wild-Mcneely-Oviedo/p/book/9781849711678
https://worldcat.org/en/title/606770196
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=37222
 
“Many small towns across India also have sacred groves. The kaavus of Kerala are managed by the government, temple trusts, local community, or even privately. […] These kaavus are tiny oases rich in floral and faunal biodiversity, many less than an acre in area. They contain rare trees such as the south Indian kanak champa, which is categorized as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They also host a number of birds, bats, butterflies and insects. […] To stand amidst the towering trees draped with creepers, allowing little sunlight even at noon, lit by a lone lamp under the snake shrine, can leave anyone with a sense of awe. The character of these kaavus is, however, changing. Some are being used as garbage dumps by city dwellers, while others are converted to modern temple structures with the trees eventually surrounded by concrete or even cut down.” – Harini Nagendra & Seema Mundoli in Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities (Penguin Random House India 2019), p. 109
https://penguin.co.in/book/uncategorized/cities-and-canopies/
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=31803

Eco-spirituality in the face of climate change: Learning from the Kaani (Kani) community of Kanyakumari District – Tamil Nadu & Kerala

Posted on 07/08/2022 by website administrator

ECO-SPIRITUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH REFERENCE TO THE KAANI TRIBE OF KANYAKUMARI FORESTS Davidson Sargunam (Nagercoil) & S Suja (Associate Professor, Women’s Christian College, College Road, Chennai) ABSTRACT The Kaani tribal people live in 48 Tribal Settlements in the deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Commentary, Cultural heritage, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, Figures, census and other statistics, Forest Rights Act (FRA), Globalization, Health and nutrition, Homes and utensils, Literature and bibliographies, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Rural poverty, Sacred grove, Southern region – Southern Zonal Council, Trees, Western Ghats – Tribal heritage and ecology, Worship and rituals | Tagged | Comments Off on Eco-spirituality in the face of climate change: Learning from the Kaani (Kani) community of Kanyakumari District – Tamil Nadu & Kerala

Tips | Nature, wildlife and more

Posted on 10/07/2022 by website administrator

Gandhi believed that giving more importance, value and relevance to practical skills, and applying traditional knowledge to solving day-to-day problems were essential for the development of rural India. – Bunker Roy, the founder of Barefoot College, which helps rural communities becomes … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropology, Bees and honey, Biodiversity, Colonial policies, Commentary, Customs, Eco tourism, Ecology and environment, Education and literacy, Elephant, Ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, Figures, census and other statistics, Forest Rights Act (FRA), Health and nutrition, History, Hyderabad Biodiversity Pledge, Literature and bibliographies, Misconceptions, Nature and wildlife, Networking, Organizations, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Regions of India – Tribal heritage & indigenous knowledge, Revival of traditions, Sacred grove, Success story, Tiger, Tips, Trees, Tribal identity, Worship and rituals | Comments Off on Tips | Nature, wildlife and more

Tip | “How to address misconceptions on tribal customs and culture in the classroom?” – Ideas and practices worth sharing among peers and students

Posted on 09/07/2022 by website administrator

There’s much to learn from the positive contributions made by tribal communities on a daily basis. To start with, let’s learn from insiders and others who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that a precious heritage will continue to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Adverse inclusion, Biodiversity, Childhood, Colonial policies, Community facilities, Constitution and Supreme Court, Cultural heritage, Customs, Democracy, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Endangered language, Ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, FAQ, Gandhian social movement, Government of India, Health and nutrition, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Media portrayal, Misconceptions, Modernity, Multi-lingual education, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Networking, Organizations, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Press snippets, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred grove, Storytelling, Success story, Tagore and rural culture, Tips, Tribal identity | Comments Off on Tip | “How to address misconceptions on tribal customs and culture in the classroom?” – Ideas and practices worth sharing among peers and students

“We plant the trees for our children in the memory of our elders who planted for us”: Trees are indispensable for India’s tribal communities

Posted on 08/07/2022 by website administrator

To enlarge, view other paintings and read the full article, click here >> My image shows the museum as a tree. It’s a strange tree. Things are a bit upside down and it’s a little frightening. Right on top, I’ve given it the shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Childhood, Customs, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Figures, census and other statistics, Literature and bibliographies, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Photos and slideshows, Press snippets, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred grove, Scheduled Tribe (ST), Seasons and festivals, Tips, Trees, Tribal elders, Worship and rituals | Tagged , | Comments Off on “We plant the trees for our children in the memory of our elders who planted for us”: Trees are indispensable for India’s tribal communities

Sacred groves foster a sense of togetherness and harmony: Protecting nature in and beyond India’s tribal communities – Kerala & Karnataka

Posted on 22/05/2022 by website administrator

CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF NATURE CONSERVATION IN INDIABy Dr S.M. Nair Living in harmony with Nature has been an integral part of Indian culture. This has been abundantly reflected in a variety of traditional practices, religious beliefs, rituals, folklore, arts and … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Commentary, Community facilities, Crafts and visual arts, Customs, Democracy, eBook eJournal ePaper, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, Gandhian social movement, Globalization, Government of India, History, Libraries, Literature and bibliographies, Misconceptions, Modernity, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Quotes, Resources, Revival of traditions, Sacred grove, Tips, Trees, Tribal identity, Western Ghats – Tribal heritage and ecology, Women, Worship and rituals | Comments Off on Sacred groves foster a sense of togetherness and harmony: Protecting nature in and beyond India’s tribal communities – Kerala & Karnataka