World Wetland Day, this year's 2021 theme shines a spotlight on wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages actions to restore them and stop their loss.

There is a growing freshwater crisis that threatens people and the planet. We, the people are using more freshwater than nature can replenish, and we are destroying the ecosystem that water and all life depend on most – Wetlands.

Wetlands

Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and even coral reefs. Fishponds, rice paddies, and saltpans are human-made wetlands.

World Wetlands Day

Each year February 2 is observed as World Wetlands Day to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

AuroVanam an initiative of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry organized a Photography Competition for World Wetlands Day.  AuroVanam invited students and teachers to capture photographs of fresh water bodies of Puducherry and / or the biodiversity around them.

Around 129 entries from junior students, senior students and teachers and 15 were selected to be exhibited at the Pondy Heritage Festival.

The winners are given below: 

Junior category (11-13)

1.         B. Kishore – 13,

ASN Govt. Middle School, Mudaliarpet.

2.         Baleja Rahul   - 11,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

3.         G. Anjali – 13,

Government Middle School Manapet.

4.         K. Sudharssan – 10,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

5.         Saravanavel – 13,

ASN Govt. Middle School, Mudaliarpet.

Senior Category (14-17)

1.         Abdul Aziz.K – 15,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

2.         Karthick – 16,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

3.         Stepan. L – 17,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

4.         Viswa Rathinam – 17,

New Modern Vidhya Mandir.

5.         Yeswin Kumaru – 17,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

Teachers

1.         Aravindaraja D – 40,

ASN Govt. Middle School, Mudaliarpet.

2.         G. Sasi Kumar – 33,

Government Middle School Manapet.

3.         Gilbert Chretien – 36,

Government Primary School, Karaikal.

4.         Saravanan.S. – 31,

Presidency Higher Secondary School.

5.         Surendhar Boobalan – 38,

Government Primary School, Indira Nagar.

The best entries have been put as an exhibition as part of the Puducherry Heritage Festival 2021 for public display at Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) office from 3rd Feb- 6th Feb (No. 62,  Aurobindo Street Heritage town, Puducherry).

All participants are requested to please come and participate in the Inauguration of the Exhibition at 11.00 am at INTACH office on 3rd February 2021.  

All are welcome to encourage the budding and talented photographers.

Click here for Location.

All participants will be given certificates and the best five entries in each category will be given a prize.