Question

What is the concept of 'Devrai'?

Answer 1

Explanation:

The word 'Devrai' is a compound of Dev meaning 'God' and 'Rai' meaning forest. The groves are often a rich source of rare fruits and plants. “A 'sacred grove' can range from a few trees to several hundred trees in a cluster.

Answer 2

Since times immemorial, ‘Devrais’ or ‘sacred groves’ in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats have been nurtured by local communities residing there, who draw upon traditional knowledge to conserve these patches of forestland.

However, steadily eroding ties to nature and rising urban migration among the younger generation in these communities have led to a decline in awareness about the importance of preserving these groves.

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