Bhoomitra Beda yatra 

Bhoomitra Beda Yatra  has been working for River Dolphin conservation in River Beas , Punjab since 2011 . It was started by Dr Sunny Sandhu .
Bhoomitra means friends of earth . Beda is a traditional boat . Yatra is a voyage . Beda and traditional boat men MALAH in indian culture holds a very deep spiritual meaning , it's not just physically crossing the river but also crossing to the other side of this samsara . Traditional boats are run with bamboo poles and constructed with local wood . So its a sustainable and non polluting system very good for the rare river dolphins which habit this River Beas .It has  been taking schools and people from all walks of life to see river dolphins in the River Beas in a village called Karmuwala and Harike Wetlands (Asia's largest freshwater bird sanctuary) . After finishing his medical school in Delhi , Dr Sunny started to learn Dhrupad with Ustad Asad Ali Khan . In his teachings he had asked him to spend time practising music next to rivers . This started a new chapter in his life . 
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He started visiting the River Beas and Harike wetlands which were not far away from my hometown Tarn Taran . On one such excursion I saw river dolphins and fell in love with them . 
 
There was a bridge which was  supposed to be built on the river beas in karmuwala  and this would have ended the boat beda culture . He decided to organise a trip for school children to visit this village and highlight this place . He organised a workshop in the school  to create song and art for river dolphins. There was a march organised in the village to the river highlighting importance of river dolphins and need to save them.
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This event was covered in the media and helped create an environmental consciousness which continues to grow . Bridge was never built and boatmen continued their jobs carrying people across . They also act as nature guides and show us river dolphins . River Beas was declared a conservation zone in 2018 and the Bulanaji the state aquatic mammal .  Every year I organise a small boat festival on world wetlands days february 2nd with musicians, poets , environmentalists etc called Bhoomitra Beda Yatra . 
 
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We work with local boatman- malahs to encourage ecotourism and organise Arts celebration in the middle of the river with people from all walks of life . This way the ancient boat tradition continues as well .  Artists like Rabbi Shergill , Niccolo Vacchi ( Saxophonist from Italy ) etc have joined our events and shared with us their precious art and knowledge . 
 
Bhoomitra Beda Yatra is a great way to spread the message of loving mother nature through music and direct action .  In 2025 end of January and Feburary we wish to organise Beda Yatras in different parts of River Beas and Satluj , thus further increasing the scope and engagement of people with the rivers .  We will be organising educational activities in villages and cities along the river with our various partners  . The idea is to get people out of their 4 walls and back in contact with nature . People conserve things that they love , so we need new ways of reconnecting people to nature . 
 
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Fundraiser Link 
www.fundrazr.com/bhoomitra  
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News articles 
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/france-based-nri-music-therapist-environment-first-priority-8479363/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/world-wetlands-day-a-step-closer-to-nature-with-birding/articleshow/107395435.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/birds-dolphins-eco-tourism-river-pollution-take-centre-stage-on-world-wetlands-day-celebrations/articleshow/107383410.cms
 
Current activities
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- Managing a whatsapp group of 110 NGOs , activists and Boatmen based in Punjab to help network and protect our natural resources . Beda yatra is a day of relaxing and enjoying for the NGOs engaged in environmental conservation in Punjab . 
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- Organising the next feb 2025 Beda Yatra . Hangdrum player Claire Piermont from Nice, France will be travelling and performing at this beda yatra . 
 
- I am working on children book on river dolphins with Esteban Pena , chilean illustrator . Further we plan to make a film on river dolphins as well 
 
- Fundraising for all the projects above