Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Appavu Joins “Pasumai Payanam” to Promote Environmental Awareness

The second day of the ongoing Pasumai Payanam, a historic cycling awareness journey from Kanyakumari to Chennai in Tamil Nadu, South India, began with an inaugural ceremony at Christ the King Higher Secondary School, Tirunelveli, on November 7.

Organized by members of the Tamil Nadu AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation) in collaboration with various Religious Congregations in the state, the 15-day cycling awareness journey is based on the theme “Let’s Protect Nature, Let’s Restore the Right to Life.” The initiative seeks to draw attention to the urgent ecological challenges confronting humanity and to inspire action for the care of creation.

Bro. Victor, Superior General of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S.H.J.), delivered the keynote address at the second day’s inaugural ceremony, while Sr. Maria Philomi FBS, President of the Tamil Nadu Conference of Religious (TNCRI), officially flagged off the day’s ride.

Students and teachers from St. Ignatius School, Tirunelveli, together with religious sisters, joined the Green Warriors as they cycled toward the Thamirabarani River. The day’s highlight was the participation of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, who graced the event as the chief guest. He presided over a palm tree planting ceremony at the Thamirabarani River, symbolizing the commitment to protect and nurture the environment. Students from St. Ignatius School performed a parai dance, delighting the crowd, after which all participants joined in planting palm seeds along the riverbank.

Following this, the Green Warriors, along with volunteers, students, and teachers, proceeded to the Bishop’s House of the Diocese of Palayamkottai, where another tree-planting ceremony was held. Students from Christ the King School, St. Ignatius School, and nearby colleges performed cultural presentations to promote environmental awareness. Members of AICUF staged a street play depicting how human activities exploit and destroy nature, inspiring the audience to take action for environmental protection.

Later in the afternoon, the Green Warriors resumed their eco-awareness journey toward Thoothukudi, distributing seed balls along the way. In the evening, they reached St. Mary’s Boys Higher Secondary School, Thoothukudi, where Fr. Singarayar of TNCRI and the school students welcomed them with the rhythmic beat of parai drumming.

The day concluded with the members of the Pasumai Payanam team sharing their experiences and stories.