On Rabindra Jayanti, 'Forest Bathing' to remember Gurudev

Want to live up to Tagore's immortal lines, "Amra nutan joubaneri doot, amra chaanchol, amra odbhuth, amra bera bhangi, amra ashok bone, ranga neshay rangi"? (We are the heralds of youth, we are restless, we are unique, we break down barriers and sway to the forest's intoxication).

The Wildlife Division of the Forest Department has the perfect prescription for you this Rabindra Jayanti – Forest Bathing. Forest bathing describes the practice of paying a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits.

The practice originated in Japan where it is called "Shinrin-yoku." It is fast catching up in the West as an important stress-buster.

The Japanese practice of forest bathing is proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system and improve the overall feeling of well-being. It became part of a national public health programme in Japan in 1982 when the forest ministry coined the phrase Shinrin-yoku and promoted it as a kind of therapy.

"We are starting Forest Bathing in the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Sukna near Siliguri. We have chosen the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore to start this programme as Tagore was so close to nature. On Tuesday we will start with 25 persons. Based on the success of the programme and the feedback, we will make it into a weekly event to be held on Sundays," stated Dharamdeo Rai, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Wildlife.

On Tuesday, Rabindra-sangeet (songs composed by Tagore) will also be played in the forest during the Forest Bathing programme.

The DFO stated that along with the healing properties of nature that shall benefit the participants, it will also create an awareness regarding forests. It will help the participants appreciate the diverse flora and fauna of Siliguri and Sukna. Interested persons have been asked to contact the wildlife office at Sukna. Forest personnel will be assigned to individual groups of tourists.

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the foothills of the Himalayas, between the Teesta and Mahananda rivers of North Bengal. The sanctuary covers an area of 158 km². Sukna, the gateway to the sanctuary, is 13 km from Siliguri.

The type of forest in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary varies from riverine forests like Khayer-Sisoo to dense mixed-wet forests at higher altitudes in the 'Latpanchar' area in Kurseong.

Himalayan animals including the Himalayan serow, porcupine, black bear, clouded leopard, elephants, bison, chital, fishing cats and jungle cats along with exotic birds are found in this sanctuary.