CURATED BY KRISTIN KOWNACKY
In the small Indian village of Piplantri, the community celebrates the gift of life by giving back to Mother Earth. For every baby girl born into the village, the community gets together and plants 111 fruit trees to honor her birth. In a country that still favors the birth of a son, this village embraces daughters and has created a tradition that benefits the people and the planet.
FROM TREE HUGGER
All too often, it seems that an increase in human population must come at a cost to the environment, like in straining resources and encroachment on once wild habitats. But one quaint village in India has adopted a wonderfully eco-conscious tradition that is actually helping to ensure a greener future with each new generation.
While in some parts of India, many expectant parents still say they’d prefer bearing sons, members of the Piplantri village, in the western state of Rajasthan, are breaking this trend by celebrating the birth of each baby girl in way that benefits everyone. For every female child that’s born, the community gathers to plant 111 fruit trees in her honor in the village common.
This unique tradition was first suggested by the village’s former leader, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, in honor of his daughter who had passed away at a young age…Continue Reading
Kristin Kownacky is a junior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is currently working towards a BA in journalism and international studies. It is her dream to travel the world, discovering hidden treasures and writing about each experience. Read her articles on her personal blog, Depart We Now.