Nurtured by nature

Do you know the difference between a hare and a rabbit? Or that the Indian giant squirrel is the state animal of Maharashtra? All this and more was discovered at Prakruti, the annual festival of Bhavan's Nature and Adventure Centre (BNAC). The three-day festival was filled with learning and adventure in the befitting ambience of BNAC at the Bhavan's College campus in Andheri.

As the official partner of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (2010–2020), BNAC has been organising the festival since 2010 and has grown to involve nature and environment-related workshops, seminars, events, competitions as well as adventure sports and other activities.
Descending from the spot climbing wall in the adventure activity area, 10-year-old Chitra Bhat from Andheri shared, "I've come here for the second time. It's great to come back as we learn so much about nature and have fun in these adventure activities." Kandivali resident Meghna Aya echoed the thought saying, "It's much better to have kids involved in such activities instead of taking them to the mall."

The list of events at Prakruti was never-ending, with tribal trails and nature trails being led by volunteers on one end and visitors partaking in the nature photography and flower exhibition on the other. Seminars on organic gardening, animal petting and dog shows by the Indian National Kennel Club took place simultaneously. The free-flowing exchange of knowledge through puppet shows, street plays and cultural folk performances is a huge part of the integration of various disciplines. The thought is echoed by Himanshu Prem, Administrator of BNAC and the curator of the festival, who envisions the exchange as an ideal communication through which people can connect with their inner self and the environment. "The events are themed around the protection of nature, environmental awareness and eco-friendly lifestyles," he shared.
With well-versed young volunteers manning the show, the festival aimed at cultivating a sense of responsibility towards the development and welfare of society by getting the youth involved. "We also encourage school and college students to participate in activities, including camping wherein they can stay in tents and dorms at the centre and make the most of what it has to offer," revealed Louie Mendes, a member of the organising team. With a footfall of nearly 17,000 this year at Prakruti, BNAC aims at not just educating people but also bringing about a social reform that connects people with Mother Earth.

BNAC is open every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. offering a range of activities and workshops. Call 022 6561 1987 or 022 6529 4633 for details.