Bhubaneswar: Odias in Japan celebrated Boita Bandana last weekend by planting an Ougon peach sapling on the premises of Shri Ram Mandir, Bando Ibaraki, in tune with the UN ecosystem restoration programme. The sapling was planted by Manoj Singh Negi, India’s first secretary, culture and education, Japan.

“We decided to plant a tree because the idols of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities are made of wood,” said Gyanindra Mishra, convener of Shree Jagannath Society, Japan, which organised the programme with Shri Ram Mandir Trust. Puja and yagna for Lord Jagannath were performed and paper boats commemorating Odisha’s maritime links with Bali were floated. A day-long boat-making workshop was organised.

“The boats made at the workshop were floated in an artificial pond during the celebrations,” said Mishra. Despite inclement weather, the event was attended by over 300 devotees, including Iskcon and different Indian associations like Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Bharat Cultural Society and Tokyo Tarang. They all ate prasad cooked at the temple.