Sacred groves are patches of lush greenery protected and preserved on religious and cultural grounds. The ancient Indian society tried to create a synergy of religion and nature to protect wilderness with a wide range of rare herbs, shrubs, reptiles, medicinal plants, ancient trees and so on. They are often associated with the local deity linked to an ancient, prehistoric tradition and customs in an area. Sacred groves can be classified under the purview of in situ conservation of biodiversity.
Rapid, unbridled industrialisation, coupled with a population boom, paved the way for irreparable damage to the ecosystem and led to the destruction of the groves. With rapid and lopsided urbanisation, we are losing this elixir of life. Over the passage of time, the question whether the legal regimes prevailing in India are sufficient for their protection remains unresolved.
This rich hub of biodiversity, which predates the agrarian era, evolved through history as a symbol of communion and reverence for nature. Man created a connection between nature and religious beliefs. In India, these gardens of the divine are spread over a wide area. Some of them are sparsely populated with a limited number of ancient trees, and the others are widely populated and are preserved as botanical gardens with a rich gene pool. A sacred grove is mainly protected by specific families in that area in the belief that if they protect the sacred patch of land, the deity will protect their family and receive blessings. A variety of unique customs and practices prevail in these areas, which depict trees as an abode of gods, goddesses, or ancestral spirits to prevent their destruction and the hunting of wildlife around the area. Due to such practices and beliefs that instil fear in the minds of people, many such groves and a wide range of endangered species are preserved.
People, to a large extent, avoided the felling of trees, hunting, collecting food produce, and encroaching on the forest as a result of the myths, taboos, and practices. Any such activities that lead to a violation of the pre-existing code of conduct are believed to be sin and a cause illness and pandemics. Different sacred groves adopt various methodologies of worshipping patterns, modes of offerings, festivals and so on, which define the cultural identity of that community.
Tremendously diverse sacred groves are scattered across the country. It is a hub for a variety of endemic and endangered species. Studies reveal that the presence of sacred groves was first documented in the late 1800s. As per numerous studies conducted, the number of documented sacred groves is within a range of 1,00,000-1,50,000, which extends to hectares of area. It has also been highlighted that the depletion in the number of sacred groves is mainly due to deforestation and the hemming of borders for other developments. In Kerala, sacred groves are known as kaavu, and serpent worship is an important feature of Kerala’s sacred groves, which are specifically termed as sarpa kaavu. In Jharkhand, it’s known as sarnas, which are worshipped by tribal communities in that area. Devrai, devrann, or pann are the sacred groves in Goa, and pavithravanams in Andhra Pradesh.
Legal angle
There arises a question regarding the ownership of the groves; mostly, it can be classified under individuals, families, public trusts, NGOs, temple trusts, local governments, or panchayats. Significant powers are given to these bodies for the protection and preservation of sacred forests. Most of the States have their State legislation or rules focusing on its protection and maintenance. The Forest departments in most of the States in India are assigned to analyse and collect data, which is later used to prepare databases on the prevalent conditions.
The Constitution lays down specific provisions for the protection and improvement of the forests. Articles 48A and 51A, which were introduced by the 42nd Amendment, play a very crucial role. Under Article 48A, “The state must protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forest and wildlife of the country.” Article 51A (g) focuses on “the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment, including the forest, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures”. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution has an implicit connection with the matter.
The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act of 2002 was a breakthrough in the protection and conservation of sacred groves that were on the verge of extinction. The Act had introduced sacred groves under the purview of “protected areas”, by insertion of Sections 18A and 18 B. It allows the State government to declare its intention to constitute any area that is not considered a reserve or territorial waters as a sanctuary, and the provisions from Sections 27 to 33A shall come into effect.
Major threats
Due to the increasing rate of modernisation and urbanisation, there has been a gradual replacement of religious beliefs and myths among people. This erosion of indigenous religious practices had created complexities with the protection of places of worship. One of the major threats faced by sacred groves in India is the diminishing size and area.
Due to the population explosion in our country, people tried to acquire land for improving cash crops and industrialisation. Initially, marginal encroachments destroyed the groves. These biodiversity hubs are exploited for their resources, as they house a wide range of flora and fauna, ancient trees, medicinal plants, and so on. People are encroaching on the forest to extract forest produce. The younger generation in our country considers these myths and practices related to groves as pure superstitions. It can be observed that people are giving more importance to the temple or the place of worship rather than the groves attached to it. Over time, as our society is becoming more and more westernised, there is not much room in people’s hearts for the protection of these green jungles.
There has been a need for specific legislation that exclusively deals with sacred groves. Well-structured legislation on the protection, preservation, and rejuvenation of the groves, and punishments for the wrongdoers who try to harm the sacred groves is the need of the hour.
It is a matter of great concern that these rich hubs of biodiversity are not given adequate protection through statutes, even though the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002, was a breakthrough. Many States are yet to formulate State legislation for the protection of sacred groves. Legislation that exclusively deals with sacred groves is the need of the hour. Currently, local government bodies try to protect groves above particular area limits, and those with less areas remain unprotected. Appropriate management practices and awareness among people of the importance of sacred groves can go a long way in protecting and maintaining these treasures.
Published – July 13, 2025 03:09 am IST