23.08.2020

Planting trees in the Roerich Estate

23th August 2020 was a day of planting trees in the Roerich Estate. This event, organized under the conditions of the lingering quarantine due to the pandemic, brightened IRMT life and brought joy to all participants.

The initiator of that special day was the Russian girl Eugenia Palaguta. She arrives to Naggar every spring during five years to fill out with energy for the whole year. It was first time when she celebrated her birthday here as she had to stay longer because of quarantine. Eugenia has a tradition to plant trees on her birthday in accordance with number of years. She addressed a proposal to the management of IRMT about planting young pines and deodars in the territory of the Roerich Estate.

- Eugenia, why did you want to realize it here, in the Roerich Estate territory?

– It is a special place for me. I know works of Nicholas and Helena Roerich. I share their dream about the alternative society and think that it would be good for our community and the planet in general to be developing in accordance with other principals and other directions that now. We still fail to go further.

- Where else have your trees grown?  

- At Bali where I have been living for 8 years and organize retreats for women. And in Italy where I also planted pines.

After the work IRMT team gathered together in the Conference hall where thanks to the Indian Curator of IRMT a festive table was organized and all people continued to interact in a friendly atmosphere.

Questions to Mr. Ramesh Chandra, Indian Curator:

- What was your reaction to the idea?  

- When I was asked about the possibility to organize that project, I was happy as I understood it was a very good idea. I consulted with the stuff and got positive respond from them as well. It is also useful for the environment of IRMT and Kullu Valley. Thanks to an active support of the Russian Curator I felt enthusiasm and a wish to organize the event with maximum effect.

- How was the event like in your opinion?

- It was very successful. The people have already placed the photos on the Facebook. Everybody is happy that even in the period of the lockdown they feel as a real team. 

- How do you like your birthday in the Roerich Estate?

- It was amazing. Thanks a lot for your positive support of my idea. I didn’t even expect that it would be so joyful holiday. I thought we would quietly plant trees and leave. But the whole team took so active part in the event, it is unbelievable. Somebody acted as a leader, the gardener approved the places of planting and all people were glad to communicate with each other and to work. Initially I wanted to plant all trees by myself but to do it as a team was much better. It was so great to see that everyone took a young tree and planted in the chosen place.