Wikipedia Trail: Chipko to Varanasi
Varanasi, India
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For
my storybook I will be focusing on important symbols from the environment. This
was an article recommended to me by Laura so I thought I'd share what I've
learned from the little bit of research I have done. The Chipko movement began
in 1973 with the intent of slowing deforestation. It is widely known today that
environmental destruction has a disproportionate negative impact on women so it
is very interesting that women were the driving force behind the deforestation
protests back in the 1970's. The women and villagers of this movement helped
inspire many more in the quest to protect their natural environment.
The
attempts at saving this type of tree in the 1700s was a major inspiration to
the Chipko movement over 200 years later. This tree is worshipped by the Hindus
during the Dasahra festival. The tree also makes an appearance in the
Mahabharata when the Pandavas place their celestial weapons in the tree for
safe keeping. I will be keeping an eye out for it as we read the epic.
Depending
on the region this festival celebrates either Durga's or Rama's, from the
Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, victories over the evil forces they fought. It
begins the preparations for the widely known Diwali celebrations.
The
historically important city is believed by Hindu mythology to have been founded
by Shiva after he dropped Brahma's head, disappearing into the ground and
becoming one of the seven holy cities. A holy city can provide Moksha something
the Pandavas from the Mahabharata seek. I wasn't expecting to see so much reference to the epics we are reading this semester. It's been a pleasant surprise to kind of know what the Wikipedia articles are talking about.
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