Water bodies in Sacred groves of India

The sacred groves are patches of land that preserved due to their cultural and religious affiliations. In the state of Kerala as in many other parts of India and across the world, sacred groves are also home to water bodies which are preserved in their pristine form due to belief systems. The Palliyane sacred grove in Vadanappily, Thrissur is home to 3 ponds which add to the wealth of flora and fauna in the 2.17 acre piece of land. The story goes that even when the family that owns the sacred grove had not laid claim to the land, the locals were still respectful of the well in the premise and were engaged in protecting and preserving it. The belief that a well in the sacred grove is as sacred as the grove itself and should not be defiled. Professor Unnikrishnan Palliyane who led the restoration of the Palliyane sacred grove recollected the support his family received in the restoration of the sacred grove. 

The water bodies present in the sacred groves are testimonials of the role of faith in ecological restoration. The round table examines various sacred groves in India and how cultural norms dictate their conservation adding to ecological wealth of the place.