Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 1: The year 2016, which marked 5th year anniversary celebration of Mangalore Bicycle Club, also saw the launching of the initiative Vanamahotsava for the club members. In 2016, the club and its members had decided to celebrate Vanamahotsava every year with the onset of monsoon an ideal time to plant trees. In the first year of its launch, 50 Saplings were planted at Prakash Offset premises at Baikampady. In the year 2017, they did seed bombing on the stretch of Tannirbhavi. In 2018, the 3rd year of Vanamahotsava was celebrated by the club. As part of its 7th anniversary, they planted around 10 saplings in seven households.
As many as 35 of the members from MbC and cycling buddies assembled at City Corporation on Sunday, June 30 and pedalled 25 km through the city and reached the venue of Vanamahotsava celebration. This year being the 8th Anniversary of the club, they planted 8 saplings in the residential property ‘Chirag’ of Vimala Ramachandran in Valencia. Vimala and her family members’ positive response was evident from the time the club approached her asking permission to do the same. Their warm welcome and they agreeing to nurture the plants was a real inspiration to all in continuing work towards mother earth. Adding on to this was family’s long term association with club member late Raheem Teekay, whom they lost in the beginning of this year. On this occasion, Vimala handed over copies of his book ‘Mallige Balli’ to MbC members on request of his son Rahil and entire Teekay family. They also distributed Mallige flower to all members as a token of love and appreciation towards cycling. Raheem Teekay was a guide and a mentor to the club since the beginning.
The interest expressed by the family in joining hands with the club for this initiative is acknowledged with utmost gratitude and their willingness to take care of the saplings and spread this awareness do deserve a mention. Saplings were taken and area for planting was prepared in advance to ensure smooth flow of events and they were all eagerly waiting for the cycling troupe to arrive in the morning.
Saplings which were picked for planting had medicinal properties, fruit bearing nature and also included the ones which produce high levels of oxygen. Special thanks to Radhesh Bhat from Tapovan, Kinnigoli, who is an NITK Graduate and a passionate environmentalist for sponsoring the saplings from his organic farm.
As a club with many environment friendly members, they continue to educate and do their bit to the environment through green environment initiatives. Vanamahotsava celebration is a tradition the club will continue forever to inspire and create awareness for the generations to come.