National Festival of Tree Planting (Van Mahotsav) in India Date in the current year: July 1, 2024

Van Mahotsav was started in India in 1950 by Minister for Agriculture and Food Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi. The first seedlings of trees were planted that year. The festival gained national importance, that is why it's annually held from July 1 to July 7. During these first seven days of July millions of trees are planted across all states of India. It's expected, that every Indian plants at least one tree during the festival. The government of India promotes celebration of this festival among children, that's why all schools, colleges and academic institutions are supplied with free seedlings of trees.

Observance of this festival has an educational purpose. During the festival people learn about the alternative fuel resource, food resource, shelter-belts around fields. All of these are provided by trees only. Moreover, trees also create decorative landscapes, offer shade and help protect soil from deterioration.