JAMMU: The Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu in collaboration with the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing (DEERS), J and K Government organised an awareness- cum- educational programme to mark the celebrations of the 68th Van Mahotsav.
The programme was held in the lush green ambience of the University Botanical Garden which was attended by the students and staff of the DEERS and the Department of Botany.
On the occasion, O.P Sharma, IFS and Director DEERS, was the special invitee who talked about the relevance of this forest festival to humankind.
Sharma sensitised participants about the various forest food edibles which need to be popularised amongst the masses.
Several saplings of traditional plants including Paarijat, SitaAshok, Neem Chameli and Zanthoxylum (Timbru) were planted by the students. Students also took a pledge to preserve and conserve the plant wealth in and around the campus and their localities.
Interestingly, on the occasion several traditional recipes and dishes including herbal Pakora made up of common medicinal and nutritionally rich herbs Commelina Benghalensis (Shoora) and Boerhavia Repens (Itt-Sitt) and herbal tea extracted out of the petals of Hibiscus rosa-sinesis (Gudhal) were also served to the participants.
Earlier, Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Head, Department of Botany presented vote of thanks.