Citizens invited to reconnect with nature at Devrai

Organisers said the walks are conducted in small batches of 30 to 40 people to maintain quality interaction and ensure responsible movement within the site. Dedicated walk leaders and volunteers guide participants through the terrain, answering questions and encouraging discussions suited to people from varied age groups and backgrounds. Due to limited volunteers, extra registrations are placed on a waiting list and given preference for future events.

PRR volunteers describe the area as an “urban sacred grove” or Devrai — a space that must be respected and preserved. Volunteer Ajay Homkar said, “We treat this place like a Devrai, a tropical forest in an urban setting. We follow the rules of a sacred grove — not bringing anything inside and not leaving anything behind. Small groups help us stay connected with people while protecting the habitat.”

The Tree Walk is part of a broader citizen-led effort to bring people back to Pune’s rivers. The group has previously hosted bird walks, butterfly walks and musical forest walks, while upcoming events include a Butterfly Walk on February 28, a Poetry Walk on March 1, a Healing Forest Walk on March 8 and a Spider Observation Walk on March 15. Participants have also contributed ideas such as River Story Walks and Morning Raga sessions, reflecting growing community involvement.

According to volunteer Sanjeev Naik, registrations for Saturday’s walk are already full, but residents are encouraged to contact the group for future programmes. The initiative gained momentum last year following a Chipko March organised in early February to express solidarity with trees and raise awareness about habitat protection.

(The author is an intern at The Indian Express)