Eco-Friendly Raksha Bandhan in UP: Siblings to Plant Trees and Tie Rakhis for Environmental Protection

Under the visionary environmental initiative of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this year’s Raksha Bandhan celebration is taking on a profound green transformation across the state. Moving beyond traditional celebrations, brothers and sisters throughout Uttar Pradesh will come together to plant saplings and tie sacred Raksha Sutras (threads) around them, solemnly pledging to nurture and protect the trees as lifelong guardians.

'Paudharopan Mahayagna-2026' and the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign

As part of the ongoing statewide "Paudharopan Mahayagna-2026" and the nationwide "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" (A Tree in Mother’s Name) campaign, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department has orchestrated special plantation drives across all forest divisions, including Lucknow. Ordinary citizens, social organizations, and cultural groups have actively joined hands to make this eco-friendly festival a massive public movement.

Just as a sister ties a Rakhi to her brother in exchange for a lifelong promise of protection, families are tying protective threads around newly planted saplings. This symbolic gesture represents a mutual pledge between humans and nature to ensure that every sapling is guarded, watered, and nurtured until it grows into a mature, life-sustaining tree.

Yogi Government's Push for Special Forests and Record Green Cover

The Yogi Adityanath government has consistently prioritized environmental sustainability, climate balance, and rural ecological restoration. To achieve these goals, the state has actively established specialized forests tailored to distinct environmental objectives across various regions.

This ambitious drive builds upon the historic milestone achieved under the state's plantation drive, where an incredible 35.27 crore saplings were successfully planted in a single day on July 12, led by CM Yogi in Gorakhpur. With the ongoing plantation campaign running through September 5 (Teachers' Day), weaving environmental conservation into the sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan demonstrates a unique and inspiring model of ecological responsibility.