Wed Jan 01 12:54:43 UTC 2025: ## Eighth Temple Garden Restored in Tirunelveli as Part of “Namma Ooru Nandhavanam” Initiative
**TIRUNELVELI, January 1, 2025** – The restoration of traditional temple gardens, known as “nandhavanams,” continues in Tirunelveli district with the inauguration of the eighth such project. The initiative, “Namma Ooru Nandhavanam,” a collaboration between the district administration, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, and ATREE’s Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre, focuses on reviving these ecologically vital spaces.
District Collector K.P. Karthikeyan launched the project at Sri Ariyanatha Swami Temple in Harikesavanallur on Wednesday, planting a gooseberry sapling, the temple’s sthala tree. The restored garden will include native trees, medicinal plants, a “Nakshatra Vanam” (a grove representing the 27 asterisms of Indian astrology), and a flower garden.
M. Mathivanan, Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre Coordinator, emphasized the importance of these gardens, highlighting their role as “green lungs” of villages, supporting biodiversity and providing resources for the community. He noted the previous decline in community involvement and the introduction of ecologically unsuitable exotic plants. The “Namma Ooru Nandhavanam” program aims to counteract this by reintroducing native species like banyan, peepal, and various medicinal plants.
Seven other temples have already benefitted from the initiative, which began in late 2021. The Harikesavanallur project marks a significant step towards preserving traditional ecological practices and cultural heritage. Several officials and researchers from ATREE participated in the launch ceremony.
First Piper 