Mosquito Free area at Pragati Resorts

Pragati’s efforts to create mosquito free environment across the region has been appreciated by the two Chief Ministers, Sri. K Chandrashekar Rao Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana and Sri. N. Chandrababu Naidu Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.  Both the Chief Ministers were kind enough to call upon the people of their states to replicate Pragati Model in every colony, village, town and city. Upon their advice, villagers, corporate and officials of both the Governments have been visiting Pragati for acquaintance on the innovative Gardening and Mosquito free spaces.

A large variety of Herbal, Aromatic plants which repel mosquitoes including a wide variety of Tulasi are propagated in Pragati Knowledge Park. Pragati has a distinguished team of Scientists, Taxonomists, Horticulturists and a skilled work force, who are round the clock doing R&D activities to develop higher strains of these Mosquito repellent plants and even gone a step-ahead by collaborating with Environment Protection Training and Research Institute – EPTRI for propagation of these plants through tissue culture to meet their ever growing demand.

Pragati’s distinguished work in the area of creating mosquito free environment has spread globally. The Government of India has acknowledged the work of Pragati. The contribution of Pragati has been recognized by United Nations Convention on Biodiversity at the Cop 11, MoP11 held in 2012 in the presence of 650 city mayors of the World. Pragati’s work has been recognised through more than 300 State, National and International awards. The objective of India’s Swachh Bharat’ can truly be achieved only through the replication of Pragati Model in all the villages, towns, cities and Metros across the Country.

The Mosquito free space developed by Pragati so far is only a drop in the Ocean. A lot of work based on Vedic knowledge and moorings needs to be done in this direction. For example by growing trees i.e. nurturing and developing root zones along the river banks the waters can be purified and made free of harmful bacteria and virus. Importantly, the roots of special plants release substances that keep the water clean, enhance its herbal and medicinal value, and protect the environment. All the age-old and traditional understanding of trees and natural balance will continue to provide us with new learning which will be relevant even for the next 100 years.

IMPORTANCE OF 21 GANAPATHI PATRIKAS

Om Gajananaya namaha

Om Ganadhyakshaya namaha

Om Vignarajaya namaha

Om Vinayakaya namaha

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vināyaka Chaturthī) is the Hindu festival that reveres god Ganesha. A ten-day festival, it starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, which typically falls in Gregorian months of August or September.

The 11-day festival remembers Ganesha's birthday, and celebrates him as the god of good beginnings, prosperity and obstacle remover. It is observed throughout India. During India's freedom struggle, Lokmanya Tilak promoted Ganesh Chaturthi as the festival of national unity, peace and freedom.

 As per Hindu tradition, no ritual or ceremony in the household can be conducted without invoking Ganesha first. Ganapati or Ganesha or Vinayaka, is found in the Rigveda, where the role of Ganapati is described as "the seer among the seers, abounding beyond measure in food presiding among the elders and being the lord of invocation... while the hymn in mandala 10 nothing nearby or afar is performed without thee."

In line with our rich Vedic traditions, Pragati Group offers precedence to Lord Ganesha. Festivals, celebrations, events and get-togethers at Pragati are initiated only after invoking Ganesha. We have preserved and continued the sanctity and importance of Ganapathi pooja on the occasion of every Vinayaka Chavithi. All the 21 patrikas endearing to Ganapathi are sourced from our Sacred Vanams and made ready for use at Ganapathi pooja.

The 21 patrikas sourced fresh from mother nature at Pragati include, Machi patram, Brihathi patram, Bilva patram, Durvara patram, Dattura patram, Badari patram, Apamarga patram, Tulasi patram, Choota patram, Karaveera patram, Vishnu Kranta patram, Daadimee patram, Devadaaru patram, Maruvaka patram, Sindhuvara patram, Jaji patram, Gandaki patram, Shami patram, Aswatha patram, Arjuna patram, and Arka patram.

Lord ganesha is worshipped with 21 sacred patras or leaves. It is believed that worshipping Lord Ganesha with is favourite leaves pleases him. A pleased Ganesha will bestow strength, long life, wisdom, wealth and prosperity upon his beloved devotees. Hence 21 Patra Puja or 21 Sacred leaves worship has become an integral part of Ganesh pooja. This is the unique worshipping for Lord Ganesha.

Each patrika refers to a particular element of nature & part of the body. Vinayaka Chavithi Pooja is known to be the path to offer our body of 21 elements, Pancha Bhutas (5 great physical elements sky, air, fire, water and earth), Pancha Tanmatras (word, touch, sence, taste and smell), Pancha Jnanendriyas (ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose), Pancha Karmendriyas (feet, hands, mouth, rectum and genitals) and mind to Vinayaka “The Almighty”.

Significance of catchment area plantations

Significance of catchment area plantations?:-

Pragati has the experience and expertise in developing medicinal and herbal plantations along the catchment area. This is very important as water flowing from hills as little streams enters rivers and water cuts the roots to release the medicine into water. This is why the river waters are considered as sacred rivers. Plants like Triphala and others which have high medicinal and herbal value are to be planted along the river banks.

Many places in India are river fed and have a huge catchment area. Plants with high medicinal and herbal value can be planted along rivers across India. The herbal and medicinal plants are planted in the catchment areas as part of root zone plantation so that water flowing towards the low areas turns sacred and purified. Unfortunately, there have been no efforts in the direction of promoting Root Zone Plantation at all the catchment areas.

Pragati has taken steps to promote Root Zone Plantation by nurturing special herbal and medicinal plants for the purpose. As part of water harvesting at Pragati different plants like Lotus, Acacia Catachu, and Amla are planted along the catchment area. The unique method of root zone plantation at Pragati converts the water from catchment areas into sacred and divine water with high medicinal value.

World Mosquito Day

Why Taxonomy Education is important for School Children

Dr G.B.K. Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of Pragati says that, school children need education in Taxonomy. He shares his childhood experiences when he used to collect Vanamulikas, which is in line with our rich ancient traditions where gurukula students were sent to collect Vanamulikas, and taught how to herd the cows.

It is very unfortunate that children today are totally unaware of value of herbal and medicinal plants. When asked how rice is produced, the reply is that machines produce rice, and how milk is obtained, the answer is that their watchman brings milk packets. The alienation of our children from our rich culture and heritage has to be ended, and children provided with basic knowledge of life, agriculture, and nature. The school children should be provided enough opportunities to visit Pragati’s Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Park to understand agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and epiculture. These visits should be made part of the project work of school children.

The future is definitely in our students. Pragati is focused on students, especially the school children. We will provide training programs in such a way that they will never forget in their lives. We have examples viz. we take them to the tree where the seed is just sprouting. Ask them to remove this sapling with their finger, and it is easy to do so. But when asked to remove a big tree, they cannot. It teaches the children a big lesson, things that can be done during childhood cannot be done during adulthood.

Training should convey simple messages viz. coconut water cleans and keeps the liver healthy. When the liver is kept healthy, it will say that, even in your next life I will come into you. When one takes Pepsi and Coke, the liver cries and says “I will never come into your body again.” No book gives children this practical knowledge. The knowledge of Taxonomy has to be given to children. Knowledge of 21 patrikas is essential.

Each deity has got his/her own patrikas. For example, Lalitha Tripurasundari has to be offered a special type of flowers and leaves. For Satyanarayana Vratham some other varieties of flowers and fruits are required. Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswathi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and Lord Brahma require special flowers who know all these as parks are also lacking these special trees and plants.

The flowers and leaves offered to deities remove a particular disease. So we are going to bring the culture. It is not a myth as the aroma we are going to get, and the deity, that disease is being taken care. This is all about the medicinal value of the plants. Each Devata has got the type of flowers they need, fruits and seeds. In this direction we need to think.