Sikkim Paryavaran Parva 2025 ends with a grand celebration in Gangtok

The third edition of Sikkim Paryavaran Parva came to a grand end today with a colourful and vibrant state-level closing ceremony held at Manan Kendra in Gangtok. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang attended the event as the Chief Guest and praised the people of Sikkim for their continued commitment to protecting nature. The fortnight-long environmental festival, observed from July 1 to July 14, was celebrated across the state under the inspiring theme — “Leave a Green Legacy.”

Sikkim Paryavaran Parva was first launched in 2023 by the Chief Minister himself. It was created as a way to bring people together to care more deeply about the environment and to involve every citizen in efforts for a greener and cleaner Sikkim. Over the past three years, this initiative has become a strong platform for sharing green ideas, community action, and sustainable development efforts.

This year’s Parva started on July 1 with a formal inauguration by MLA Aditya Golay at Maitreya Manjri Park, Ridge Park, Gangtok. A symbolic “Greenathon” was flagged off, setting the tone for two weeks of green action throughout the state.

One of the major highlights was the unique observance of “A Day for Mother Earth” on July 7, where traffic across the state was stopped for seven minutes to raise awareness about the dangers of carbon emissions. The moment brought people together in silence, reminding everyone about their role in fighting climate change.

Various tree plantation drives also marked the fortnight, such as “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, #Plant4Mother#, and the heartwarming Mero Rukh Mero Santati program, where 108 trees are planted for every newborn child in the state. These campaigns received enthusiastic support from citizens, schools, panchayats, and local groups.

A special initiative — Sikkim Shishu Samridhi Yojana — was launched to encourage eco-friendly parenting, linking it with the idea of growing trees alongside children as symbols of care and responsibility.

Other events included green walks and rallies, notably a large one on July 11, where Forest Minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, along with senior government officials, led a walk to the Forest Secretariat. School students also actively took part in competitions like quizzes, essay writing, poetry recitations, and skits based on environmental themes.

The department also ran a televised Green Quiz for Government Senior Secondary School students, where schools from all over the state participated. Community clean-up drives, awareness workshops, and roadside greening efforts were also carried out with full energy.

At the closing ceremony, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, welcomed the guests and provided a detailed report on the activities. He highlighted innovative ideas like zoo animal adoption under “My Child from Wild,” large-scale tree plantation drives, and the introduction of Online Forest Check Posts to make forest management more transparent and efficient.