Based on inputs from UD fellow Heeralal Sarote
On the 19th of December 2020 Van Kaleva Utsav was organised in the Baiga village of Ajgar in Dindori District of Madhya Pradesh. The program was aimed at celebrating and spreading awareness about the diverse uncultivated foods of the Baiga people. The primary school children of Ajgar vilage were taken to the forests of Punpasi Dongar (Hill) where village elders Harijeet Baiga and Jonusingh Baiga helped them identify a variety of uncultivated food trees and plants.
The children got to identify various different trees and plants that are a source of different wild tubers, green leafy vegetables, fruits and flowers. Some of the wild foods the children got to see included – Karugeeth, Lorgi kanda, Baichandi kanda, Ravi kanda, Bhelwa phal, char phal, Jurup phal, Kosum phal, Menhar phal, Kiroda phal, Jamun phal, Kaniha kanda, Dhobe Bhaji, Keolar Bhaji, Bail phal, Seroili Bhaji, Peepar bhaji, Pakri Bhaji, Kendu phal, Girhul phul, Amri Bhaji. After the forest visit there was a display of wild and uncultivated foods at the house of the Mukadam (traditional headman). The event concluded with a meal comprising Kutki (Little millet), tubers and leafy vegetables. Village elder Jonu Baiga shared that in schools children are taught from books but only if we ourselves teach the children how to identify and use different wild foods from our hills and forests will the new generation be able to identify, collect and eat these different foods. The event involved 24 children (16 girls and 8 boys) and 10 adults.
