Bhubaneswar: Despite continuous rain, the festive spirit shone brightly at St. Vincent’s Church in Satyanagar, where thousands of people, including parents and children, gathered to celebrate Christmas. The church featured beautifully decorated Christmas trees and nativity scenes, but notably, there was no Santa Claus inside.
However, as visitors exited the church, they were delighted to find a unique Santa Claus waiting outside. This Santa, clad in the iconic red and white outfit, was accompanied by a costumed superhero named Dedi Loku, or Tree Man in the Kui language. Together, they brought a green message to the celebrations, distributing tree saplings instead of traditional gifts.
The initiative, supported by volunteers from the Bakul Foundation, was met with cheers of “Gacha Neba Gacha, Santa Deuchi Gacha” (Take trees, Santa is giving trees) from the 20 college-going volunteers. Santa, speaking in Odia, added to the festive joy, shouting his signature “Ho Ho Ho” and engaging with visitors.
Santa shared a meaningful message, explaining, “Christmas is closely associated with trees, especially evergreens like fir and pine, which symbolize life and growth even in winter. This year, I’m gifting trees to encourage everyone to embrace life and sustainability. Let’s replace bouquets, which are beautiful but lifeless, with living plants that grow and flourish.”
Dedi Loku echoed Santa’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of trees during the climate crisis. “The best gifts we can give are trees. They show we care about the planet and future generations,” he said.
The Bakul Foundation distributed approximately 250 saplings of species like Kesabardhani, Manjuati, Dalchini, Bela, and Panasa during the event. Volunteers recorded the names of recipients to follow up on the plants’ care, urging them to adopt and nurture the saplings. They also promoted gifting plants for occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and memorials to foster a personal connection with nature.
Sujit Mahapatra, a representative of the Bakul Foundation, underscored the significance of the initiative. “Every New Year, lakhs of bouquets are exchanged in Bhubaneswar, but they lack meaning. Even if 1% of these were replaced with living plants, it would create a meaningful impact. Trees like the Christmas tree symbolize life and growth, making them ideal gifts. At Bakul Foundation, we offer attractively packaged plants and handmade seed cards as thoughtful gift options.”
The My Tree Campaign by the Bakul Foundation aims to build personal relationships with trees and cultivate a culture of planting and gifting trees. Through events like this, the campaign continues to inspire people to make sustainable choices and celebrate life in harmony with nature.
