Q. Every year, a monthlong ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes? (UPSC Prelims 2014)
Answer: Gond and Korku
Notes: The correct answer is [B] Gond and Korku. This question refers to the traditional ecological festival known as Hari Jiroti (or Hari Jiroti/Harioti), celebrated primarily in the regions of Madhya Pradesh.

• The Communities (Gond and Korku): The Gond and Korku tribes inhabit the Satpura and Vindhya ranges of Central India. They have a deep-rooted cultural connection with the forest and practice various indigenous conservation rituals.
• The Campaign/Festival: During the month-long monsoon period, these communities celebrate the arrival of the rains by planting saplings of fruit-bearing trees like Mango, Jamun, and Mahua. This is not just a social gathering but a functional ecological exercise to ensure food security and biodiversity for future generations.
• Significance: This tradition highlights the concept of "Sacred Groves" and community-led conservation, where the survival of the tribe is linked to the health of the surrounding forest.

Comparison with other options:

• Bhutia and Lepcha (A): These are tribes of Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills. While they have their own nature-worshipping festivals like Losoong or Sakewa, they are not specifically associated with this particular central Indian fruit-planting campaign.
• Irula and Toda (C): These tribes are from the Nilgiri Hills of South India. The Todas are a pastoral community known for their unique barrel-shaped huts and buffalo-rearing, while the Irulas are famous for their snake-catching and honey-gathering skills.
• Sahariya and Agariya (D): The Sahariya (mostly in Rajasthan/MP) and Agariya (traditional iron-smelters) have distinct cultures, but the specific ecological festival mentioned in the context of fruit-tree plantation is a hallmark of the Gond and Korku social fabric.

Historically, these practices have helped maintain the "Green Ribbon" of Central India despite increasing industrial pressure on tribal lands.