Pigeons that don't have a domicile certificate

WWF's 15th annual Panda festival includes film screenings, nature trails, photo exhibitions, workshops and competitions, all to draw focus on the environment

WWF's 15th annual Panda festival includes film screenings, nature trails, photo exhibitions, workshops and competitions, all to draw focus on the environment

The pigeon that sits on your ledge all day is as much a resident of Mumbai as you, who have perhaps been living here for decades, are. After all, it made it's way to a cult Hindi film that saw one of Bollywood's hottest stars look melancholic while his lover sang, Kaboootar Ja Ja Ja.

Pigeons are, in fact, an alien species that arrived in India two centuries ago.

It's strange then that pigeons are actually a species alien to India and arrived here just over 200 years ago from distant European shores via sea travellers. The 15th Panda Festival of Environment organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is all set to feed the future decision-makers, meaning the youth, with similar nuggets of green information.

"We started way back in 1994, but with the Copenhagen Summit just around the corner and this being National Environment Month (November 18 to December 19), it was apt to celebrate the fest," says Goldin Quadros, Interim State Director, WWF India.

The theme
This year, the fest is dedicated to native species transplanted from one region to another by man, and how they've wreaked havoc on the eco-system. "The Gulmohur tree, pigeons and cockroaches were all alien to India, and reached here via seafarers. They found the environment suitable, and were able to breed prolifically. In several cases, they even posed a threat to native plants and insects," adds Quadros.

Nature trail
Here's an opportunity to combine astro with botany. This nature trail teaches you more about your star sign and the plants associated with it. "Ancient yogis were eco-friendly. They devised rituals that prodded devotees to plant certain saplings on their birthday to acquire good luck. For instance, those with the moon sign of Cancer were told to plant Peepul saplings. So, everyone did their bit for nature," says Quadros.

Workshops
A fun series of workshops teach you how to recycle old mithai boxes and rakhis to create innovative gift boxes. Wild Print magic sessions will teach you how to make paint by using natural colours (obtained by squeezing leaves and flowers). You can also try your hand at competitions ranging from Spin-a-yarn to banner making, environmental poetry writing and Rangoli; all related to the theme of environment.
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Exhibition
A photo exhibition on alien species complements screenings of Maldhok Pakshi Abhayarnya's Nanaj, a documentary about conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, and Poison on the Platter by Ajay Kanchan, a film about Genetically Modified (GM) foods in India. Leopards in the Lurch and Turtles in a Soup discuss how both species are in danger of extinction.

At: Maharashtra (Mahim) Nature Park, Dharavi Udayan, Sion (W). Till: December 11, 9 am to 5 pm Call: 22078105 / 22071970 Entry: Free entry for film screenings. Nature trails cost Rs 5 per session. Participation in workshops costs Rs 150.

The schedule
Competition
}10 December 9.30 am to 12 pm Group Rangoli competition
}10 December 11 pm to 4 pm Skit competition
}10 December 1 am to 3 pm Banner painting
}11 December 9.30 am to 11.30pm Cartoon drawing
}11 December 11 am to 3 pm Spin-a-yarnu00a0
}10 December 1 pm to 3 pm Mask painting competition
}11 December 9.30 am to 11.30 amu00a0Collage competition
}10 December 2 pm to 4 pm

Nature games competition
}11 December 1 pm to 2 pm Environment Poetry recitation competition
}Nature Trails - 9 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 3.30 pm
}Exhibition of photographs on Invasive Alien Species - 9 am to 5 pm
}Film screenings throughout the festival

Workshops
}10 December, 2 pm to 4 pmu00a0u00a0Go Wild u2013 Print Magic
}11 December,u00a0 2 pm to 4 pm Recycling waste into useful material
}10 December 11 am to 1 pmu00a0u00a0Pottery workshop