West Bengal: A unique Bhai Dooj was celebrated on mangrove plants in Sagar Island. Several women applied sandalwood tilak on mangrove trees, dressed them in new saris, and sang songs. This event was part of the Bhai Dooj ritual, in which these trees were given love and respect like brothers. After applying sandalwood tilak, women hugged the mangrove trees as a symbol of friendship. After this, they sang songs of friendship, the sentiment of which was, "O Saathi, Mujhe Bhi Teri Tarah Dil Ki Baat Kehne Ka Man Karta Hai." This song shows their deep connection with mangroves.

Passion for mangrove conservation
To inspire other women to also take up mangrove conservation, all of them held each other's hands and formed a circle around the mangrove trees and sang songs. The message of the song was, "Hold hands, promise that we will always be friends and maintain the dignity of friendship."

Efforts to raise awareness
The women also took out a rally on the banks of the Muriganga River carrying posters related to mangrove conservation and awareness. After this, they went to the river bank and standing in the tidal water, offered a new sari to a huge Bain tree and garlanded it with colorful wildflowers and sandalwood tilak.

A crowd gathered in the program.
Hundreds of people from the nearby villages gathered on the river bank to see this unique thinking of the women and this initiative of mangrove conservation. During the program, to encourage this effort of protection and conservation of mangroves, the elderly women made the atmosphere more special by playing again, conch, and bells. This unique effort of mangrove conservation attracted everyone's attention.