Friendship Day Turns Green in Visakhapatnam

Sunday’s Friendship Day took on a leafy twist in Visakhapatnam. Rather than chocolates and cards, a crowd of volunteers, students and a handful of NGOs assembled beneath a sprawling banyan tree on Railway Station Road, Dondaparthy – a tree locals estimate to be about 140 years old.

The gathering was organised by the Green Climate Team, a non‑governmental outfit that works on environmental protection and tree‑conservation, together with partners Vanamali, CTG, the Indian Institute of Applied Mechanics (IIAM), ActionAid and Rotary Couples. A few moments of prayer were offered, after which the participants launched a series of activities aimed at safeguarding the city’s green cover.

J. V. Ratnam, founder‑secretary of the Green Climate Team, explained that the group plans to promote “seed rakhis”, hold Vriksha Bandhan (tree‑tying) ceremonies and encourage the planting and protection of palm groves. “Every small act counts,” he said, urging people to think of trees as friends that deserve care.

Vanamali’s CTG administrator, Malla Saritha, reminded the audience of the Bishnoi community’s age‑old tradition of defending trees, noting that the practice underscores the broader need to conserve natural resources and forests.

Professor Varalakshmi of IIAM added that students will be actively involved in Vriksha Bandhan programmes running till 28 August, helping spread awareness about forest conservation and climate change.

Representatives from the participating organisations, along with volunteers and students, took part in planting saplings, tying symbolic threads to the banyan’s aerial roots and sharing pledges to protect the environment. The event, while modest in scale, reflected a growing local enthusiasm for turning friendship into a shared responsibility for the planet.