Patna: A village in Bihar witnessed the sowing of many saplings last week after a groom set the activity as a precondition for marrying his would-be bride in what local villagers term as a very welcome trend.
As per the report, Dr Nishith Kumar, a resident from Badshahpur village in central Bihar’s Sheikhpura district, asked his in-laws to plant 250 saplings in his village in lieu of solemnising the marriage with his would-be bride Dr Jaislin. Both are posted in a hospital in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city.
It was only after the in-laws agreed to fulfil his demand that the marriage was finally solemnised on December 15. Soon after the marriage, the in-laws family, led by groom’s father-in-law Dr Ravikant Sinha, reached Badshahpur village on Friday and planted 250 saplings in and around the village with the help of local villagers, the local media reported. Reports said the groom family did not seek any dowry in marriage; instead seed sowing was set as precondition for wedding.
“This is a very, very welcome trend, which will create awareness among the masses about protecting the environment,” villagers told the local media.
This is the third time in the past few weeks that plants were potted at wedding time. The first such scene was witnessed at a ceremony held at Ramchandrapur-Dasara village under Mohanpur village in Samastipur district on May 6 last year when 101 saplings were distributed among the event’s guests. The saplings were handed over to only those who promised to take care of them properly.
Similar activities were witnessed during another wedding ceremony organised at Modsarai village under Shivsagar block in Rohtas district when the newly wed couple planted a sapling soon after their exchange of garlands. The marriage was solemnised on May 20 last year. Reports said the marriage ritual began with the planting of a sapling by the couple, and the drive continued until the reception was over.
A series of “eco-friendly” marriages across the state have come as a gust of fresh air in the society where awareness about the environment still remains low.
