Tuesday, 5 September 2017

URBAN FORESTRY AT PRAGATI RESORTS, HYDERABAD

URBAN FORESTRY AT PRAGATI RESORTS, HYDERABAD

The future belongs to urban forestry. Today the farmers use chemicals in the fields which make the agro products greatly adulterated. The farmers are made to understand that crops can be raised only by using chemical fertilizers, and lost their roots in organic farming. So there is every need for towns and cities to focus on urban forestry and promotes herbal and medicinal plants. Gardens and trees help in reducing the temperature and controlling pollution. #http://www.pragatigreenliving.com/

Regarding gardening, every house is to be designed in such a way as per Vasthu. Vasthu means to develop constructions as per the direction of light, wind and water. The wind should move in the direction of carrying aroma of the plants into the house. Each house should be directed to realize proper flow of air and light. Water should be located towards the North i.e. Ashtadhikpalakas, a system given to which side of the house what should prevail. This knowledge is the one which we have lost, and which we have to revive. Some pertinent questions like why to North East bigger trees are not planted are answered by Vaasthu.

Indoor plants are being neglected totally. The inside of the house is painted with chemical-based paints. The lead and other chemicals in paint may cause many diseases. Even the AC in the house promotes bacteria and virus. So not only at homes but also in hospitals esp. Intensive Care Units (ICU) patients are not able to recoup post trauma and surgery. Hospital based diseases are on the rise, asthma and bronchitis are also on the rise. So, medicinal and herbal indoor plants are the only answer for all health problems.

Plants at the road sides have to be useful and withstand the vagaries of weather viz. heavy rain and strong winds. Now, we find roads blocked due to branches and trees breaking and uprooted by storms. This leads to frequent road jams, the electric and TV cables cut and the fall-out evident as long blackouts and disruption of normal life. Trees instead of protecting us have become a hazard for people and traffic on the roads. Pragati Resorts Hyderabad provides the right kind of plants for every purpose and those that we need for the future. The practice to grow useless plants from waste seeds needs to end.


Thursday, 31 August 2017

Mosquito Free area at Pragati Resorts

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.


Thursday, 24 August 2017

IMPORTANCE OF 21 GANAPATHI PATRIKAS

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”.

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

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.

Tuesday, 8 August 2017

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.

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Importance of Vanamulikas

Importance of Vanamulikas (herbal & medicinal plants) and Cows for a healthy and happy life:-


The sacred “Vanamulikas” available on Aushadi Parvatham (mountain) situated between Kailash and Nandi Parvathams (mountains) in the Himalayas. It is considered that there is no Kailasam without Nandi, Rushulu, and Eeshwarudu. The herbs grown at Pragati transform the place into Kailasam.

Vanamulikas and cows help in the creation of Vyadirahitha Samajam. In the good old days, the cows were allowed to move freely in the gardens and forests where they grazed on vanamulikas or medicinal plants. These became part of the milk the cows provided, and secured the health of the people consuming this milk. In the present times, where cows are fed grass with no medicinal value, and tied all day to remain in cow sheds provide milk that has neither nutritional or medicinal value.

At Pragati, the Desi cows are reared and allowed free to graze at our medicinal and herbal gardens. This means a healthy cow and nutritious milk from cows. Exercise and activity is good for cows and humans as well. Due to lack of exercise and activity it is leading to dangerous diseases and health problems. The increasing number of caesarean operations in women in the modern time is basically due to inactivity and sedentary life during pregnancy time.

Cows should be reared in open farms with lots medicinal and herbal plants. There is an inordinate link between herbs and cows, as the herbs they each reaches humans and plants through milk, cow ghee, cow urine and cow dung. When cows move around in nature and graze on different plants and herbs, they are very selective in choosing the right type of plants. In the recent decades, we have witnessed the drastic fall in the number of Punganoor cows. This is because of their death during delivery as the cows have been kept in one place, fed there, with no movement at all.

The knowledge of this inter-relationship between cows, trees and humans need to be understood and the cows and plants need to be protected. Our ancestors have visualized this inordinate link between cows and nature and passed it to generations to come. However, the modern methods of farming have brought ruin of health, happiness and peace due to discontinuity of providing free movement to the cows and their grazing on medicinal and herbal plants.

The Vanamulikas include 21 patrikas which are the Aarogya Pradatas and Prana Pradatas. These vanamulikas were used by our ancestors for ages to safeguard and protect the health of individuals and society. The Vinayaka Chavithi festival celebrates the importance of nature and vanamulikas in our lives. Each and every person should know the importance of vanamulikas for a happy and healthy life. The 21 patrikas or medicinal plants include Machipati, Vakudaku, Maredu, Garika, Ummettha, Regu, Uttareni, Tulasi, Mamidaku, Ganneru, Vishnu Kanthi, Danimma, Devadaru, Maruvam, Vavili, Jajiaaku, Devakanchanam, Jammiaaku, Ravi aaku, Tellamaddi and Jilledu.

We have a definite answer for questions like, why are flowers offered to gods? The flowers and leaves have the aroma on inhaling which the toxins in the body are removed. The “Vyadirahitha Samajam” is established only because of herbs. When flowers and leaves are brought into the house “Intillipadi” get the benefit of health and happiness. The whole village or town is benefited when flowers and leaves are arranged in temples.

It is said that, “Kaligitta Dhuli Tagilithe Bhoomi Phulakarishtundi” (With the touch of cow’s hoof the Earth is enriched and enlightened). It means that the Cow’s touch forms humus. The importance of humus is that it converts minerals of the Earth into food. All parts of the Cow when in contact with the Earth forms humus. When the Cow is fed with Til and Gud….. for 8 days, on the 9th day the cow gives milk rich in DHA that can treat diabetes and other health problems. So Cows help in removing Grahadosha. If you offer “Navadanyas” to the cow, it will remove all health problems with milk getting enhanced with “Sapthadhatus.” If the body has all the Sapthadhatus there can be no scope for all health problems. Even if diseases are there, they are cured.

Pragati aims to bring back the rich culture and traditions of India. For example, honey has no expiry date. There are 5 substances that do not change with change, as time passes these become highly valued herbs – Honey, Cow Ghee, Gud, Rice and Imli. We have forgotten these and there needs to be comprehensive thinking in this direction. Pragati’s efforts are only few drops in the ocean, and there is much more that Pragati can give people of Andhra Pradesh get benefitted a role model state to follow.