PRAYAGRAJ: Setting a unique example of creating awareness on Pradushan Mukt Baraat (pollution-free wedding procession) on the occasion of World Environment Day, a groom from Pratapgarh, along with baraatis, cycled four kilometres from Aamapur Berra (Raniganj) to Ramgarha village in Shivgarh block of Pratapgarh on Saturday evening.
Before the wedding procession started, the bridegroom Vivek Kumar Vishwakarma planted a sapling in a field and appealed to people to plant more and more tress to protect our environment.
Searing heat also failed to be a deterrent as Vivek Kumar was accompanied by a group of environmental activists.
The motive behind their arduous journey was to send across a message about environment protection on World Environment Day and encourage people to organize pollution- free weddings, keeping a check on unnecessary expenses.
Vivek, a local businessman and an active participant in environmental awareness campaigns, said, “I chose June 5 (World Environment Day) as the date of my wedding because I wanted to spread the message about the benefits of pollution-free weddings across the country.” “People should avoid unwanted expenses in weddings and take a green route to solemnize marriages,” he added.
The groom also distributed saplings among guests on the occasion.
As the groom reached the village on the bicycle along with a few baraatis, residents praised their noble gesture.
Head of Paryawaran Sena, an organisation working for environmental protection, Ajay Krantikari, told TOI, “A group of environmentalists have been constantly promoting the concept of ‘green weddings’ in villages, blocks and cities across the country.
The concept of pollution-free weddings has been accepted by the people of the village to check the rising level of pollution.
The time has come when people living in metro cities should also come forward for the noble cause.” There were limited baraatis who peddled from one village to another to spread the message of green baraat.
Baraatis were wearing masks and maintaining adequate distance from each other while cycling from Aamapur Berra to Ramgarha village.
Locals also seen clicking photographs and filming the unique baraat.
In fact, it was Krantikari, who convinced Vivek and his family members to ride a bicycle to the bride’s home.
Krantikari said more and more people are joining the ‘Harit Vivah’ campaign across the state.