BOTANY FEST

Botany Fest introduces the concept of 'Vanam Vedam Vigyanam'  where the skills from Van Yug (Pre-civilized world), Learnings from Vedic Yug (Civilized world) ethnobotanical knowledge are integrated to provide solutions to the problems of Vigyan Yug (Modern / Science Age). Since 2017, Botany Fest is being jointly organized annually by The South Dang Forest Division and The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda at the Waghai Botanical Garden. Waghai Botanical Garden (WBG) is a unique heritage site with innumerable plant species from lower to higher plant species.

The fest is an initiative to motivate younger generation towards the beauty of plants occurring in Waghai Botanical Garden. It gives a platform to students, researchers, teachers, and faculties from different parts of Gujarat to share information, knowledge and experiences on plant diversity. Every year students and researchers from 20 prime Agriculture, Botany, Biosciences, Life Sciences, Agriculture, Ayurveda, Forestry institutes attend the fest to experience the fun and learning. The fest holds various games and activities to make the learning impactful. Adventure games such as PHYTOHUNT (Botanic version of Treasure hunt where participants have to solve clue one by one to get the treasure of botanic knowledge), mountain climbing, rafting, and tent making are the one of the most attracting activities. Other activities include relaxing activities, handicraft activities, intellectual games, and talk show - The Tales from the Woods. Natural painting, Night walk in Jungle, Chef of Jungle, Fashion Designing, Parliament of Jungle, Bujho to Jaane etc. are the interesting activities happen during the Botany Fest. Overall, the fest creates interest and love for Botany in order to inculcate the indigenous practical values/knowledge with fun, facts, puzzles, games along all age groups.