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| GVNML Laporiya organises
a talaab pujan |
 Gram
Vikas Navyuvak Mandal Laporiya (GVNML) organised a talaab poojan on
November 4, 2003 at Laporiya and Nagar villages in Dudu block in Jaipur.
Since 1980, on every Dev Uthni Gyaras, the 11th day from Diwali, this
ritual is performed to re-establish the link between man and nature.
Besides villagers from Nagar and Laporiya, residents of Bhojpur, Binkhera,
Meht, Keira, Gaguru, Awara and Urar gathered in large numbers to participate
in this event-vowing to protect water bodies and natural resources.
Nagar and Laporiya, today have emerged as models of rainwater harvesting
and pastureland development. Thanks to a unique model of pastureland
regeneration through chaukas-a system which harvests rainwater in
dyked pastures. Laxman Singh, Secretary, GVNML, played a pioneering
role in mobilizing the village community to rejuvenate the village
ecosystem through afforestation and protection of waterbodies. Singh
says, "The chauka magic is not limited by the village boundaries
any more." The presence of large number of villagers in this
event is a testimony to this.
 Blowing
of trumpet and beating of drums, marked the commencement of the talaab
poojan in Nagar village. Villagers in brightly coloured turbans and
white kurtas and dhotis and women in colourful hues skirted the village
lanes and talaab, chanting slogans for the regeneration of pasturelands
and trees.
"Ped lagana hamara dharm hai; Ped prakit ka singar hai; Ped katna
paap hai; Nange dharti kare puka; Ped lagake karo singhar"
(Planting tree is our duty; plant trees and bring prosperity to
the village; plant trees and save the parched land from devastation.)
The procession of 70-80 villagers marched to the Gopalsagar talaab,
in Nagar, where the pujari-(village priest) performed rites and handed
over a red thread (rakhi) to each villager. They then took shovels
and initiated the work of desilting this talaab. "Each family
will have to contribute a man-day towards desilting starting today"
informs Singh.
 The
procession then marches to tie rakhi on a banyan tree, making it a
part of their family. "The common thread which binds all the
villagers together is the pledge to protect nature in return for its
bounties. "It is necessary to appease Varundev and Indradev for
showering us blessings" opines Gesu Singh, a village elder.
The poojan concluded with a meeting in Laporiya, where a number of
water warriors from the participating villages were honoured for their
fascinating initiatives in reviving water bodies and pastureland and
had succeeded in making their villages self sustainable in terms of
their water needs. GVNML used this opportunity also, to inaugurate
a Panchyat Sahyog Kendra in Nagar for awareness generation and information
dissemination.
For more information write to
Laxman Singh
Gram Vikas Navyuvak Mandal Laporiya
Laporiya, Dudu
Jaipur-303008
Ph: 01428-280142, 280143
Email: gvnmlaporia@data.infosys.net
Jal Sangrah Shibir at IIT Bombay
A two day workshop on RWH "Jal Sangrah Shibir" is being
organised at IIT Bombay, on December 6 and 7, 2003. This event will
showcase success stories and best practices in RWH.
For details contact:
Vijay Kambe,
Program Manager,
Savarkar Sadan,
71 Dr M.B.Raut Marg, Shivaji Park, Mumbai 400 028
Phone: (022)2444 2962/3, Fax:(022)2445 0694
email: pmgr@jalsangrah.org
Website: http://www.jalsangrah.org/invite.html
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