The “Ente Maram, Ente Jeevan” (My Tree, My Life) initiative jointly organized by Asianet News and the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) has set a new Guinness World Record for the maximum number of people hugging trees simultaneously.
The event, held last week on the JNTBGRI premises at Palode in the South Indian state of Kerala, saw 4,620 people hugging trees to mark the International Day of Forests.
Governor P. Sathasivam inaugurated the event by embracing a tree.
K. Raju, forest minister; Loknath Behara, director general of police; V.K. Madhu, district panchayat president; D.K. Murali and K.S. Sabarinath, members of legislative assembly; Frank P. Thomas, Asianet news director; M.G. Radhakrishnan, Asianet news editor; and Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, ERAM group chairman, were present at the event.
“Ente Maram, Ente Jeevan” broke the existing record of the largest tree hug set by Tata Chem DAV Public School, Mithapur, Gujarat, in December 2016, where 1,316 people had participated. People from all walks of life poured into the sprawling premises of the JNTBGRI on Tuesday last week to participate in the unique tree-hugging event and to set a new world record. They erupted in joy as the representative of the Guinness Book of World Records declared it a world record event.
“The record to break was 1316. Final number today is 4,620. A new world record has been set,” Rishi Nath, Guinness World Records adjudicator, announced. He handed over the official certificate to Frank P. Thomas of Asianet News.
Besides setting a new world record, the event highlighted the need for protecting forests. The participants took a pledge to conserve forests and protect trees. As a token of their resolve, they carried home saplings presented by the organizers.
Students of Al-Iqbal College, Peringamala, guided the participants into designated plots in the garden. Experts from the JNTBGRI were present to assist the representative of the Guinness Book of World Records.

Source: Arab News