Oran: Sacred groves

People will go to lengths to protect their living spaces. In difficult terrains, communities are more receptive to climate change and its effects. They understand the need to protect the environment. Here's a story about the Oran, a sacred grove in Rajasthan.

Orans are sacred spaces to the people of Rajasthan. Image source: MongaBay India

Life in Rajasthan is not the easiest. Despite having many amenities, a greater part of the state constitutes the Great Indian desert. Here, vegetation is scarce, rainfall rare and little to non, and temperatures run to the extremes. The people here understand the importance of having a balanced ecosystem and ensuring that the natural order is not disturbed.

Last year, nearly 40 residents from Jaisalmer marched 225 kilometres to save their sacred groves known as Oran. As of now, these biodiversity hotspots are categorised as wastelands. However, the people submitted a letter to the authorities, petitioning the name be changed and the area reclassified as 'Oran land'.

But why would the people demand such a change? As of now, the category of wasteland leaves a lot of room for exploitation and this has caused many people to take advantage of this ambiguity. These outsiders often clear down vegetation and hunt animals to set up their industries.

The local communities do not stand by this. They state that the Orans are the lands where the Great Indian Bastard roams freely and here, brisk winds blow, and with strong sunshine and ample amount of water, vegetation sprouts up abundantly. Despite the size of the Dergai Oran being 10,000 hectares, only 4,000 hectares have been classified as common land and the remaining 6,000 hectares have been designated as wastelands.

The government aims to make these wastelands 'productive'. However, the people fight against the regulations because this is an area of natural vegetation. Here, people have planted indigenous trees such as Khejri, ber, Khair, etc. Like sacred groves and their communities across the country, the people of Rajasthan and the Orans also have a religious and spiritual connection that is closely linked to their identities.

Currently, the fight to save the Orans is still going on. People are worried that if the Orans disappear, life as they know would cease to exist.