Can a 15th-century Indian singing tradition help stop wildfires?
Briefly

In Murgapahadi village, Eastern India, women are stepping up to educate their communities against forest fires using devotional songs. This year, events have highlighted the need to combat increasing wildfires—over 4,500 hectares affected—by addressing practices that contribute to them. Forest officials are combining high-tech monitoring tools with culturally resonant methods, enlisting 80 devotional singing groups. Their efforts have reportedly led to a 20-30% reduction in fire incidents in certain areas, illustrating the power of community engagement in environmental issues, especially in a culturally rich context like Odisha.
The women of Murgapahadi village have been proactive in managing farms while their husbands are away, and now they are educating others using song to combat forest fires.
Officials in Odisha are leveraging cultural heritage by enlisting devotional song-and-dance groups to promote fire prevention practices that can lead to a decrease in wildfire incidents.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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