It was an initiative to remind people that nature’s five elements are an integral part of life, and to start a dialogue on the role of individuals, institutions and governments in overcoming environmental challenges.
At a day-long event on Sunday, people from various walks of life came together to celebrate the five elements of nature — earth, fire, water, air and ether — at ‘Aimbootham Vizha’ organised by Poovulagin Nanbargal. “With the dawn of modern science, people have forgotten the five elements are part of life and the ecosystem. Tamil literature has always celebrated the five elements, which were the basis of medicine,” said G. Sivaraman, an activist associated with Poovulagin Nanbargal.
The event touched upon environmental challenges and ecological imbalances. Speaking about earth, R. Selvam, president of Tamil Nadu Organic Farmers Association, said segregation of waste and recycling would reduce the amount of disposable garbage which could have saved wetlands like the Pallikaranai marsh. Use of pesticides and chemicals were destroying the micro-organisms in the soil that help keep land fertile, he said.
Twenty books on various environmental issues were released at the event.
