Chennai, Aug. 4 Expressing their love and concerns for environment, school children in Chennai tied Rakhis to trees ahead of the Raksha Bandhan festival.

Rakhi symbolises bondage between siblings, and is marked by a sister tying Rakhi around the wrist of her brother.

Students of Chennai's Velammal Vidyalaya tied Rakhis to trees under a unique programme planned by Exnora International, a city based voluntary forum, and hosted it within the sprawling gardens of the Governor's house.

It was Governor Surjit Singh Barnala himself who led the students by tying a Rakhi around a plant.

About 50 girl students followed suit and tied Rakhis around trees to express their love and affection to the plant kingdom. In return they hoped for a cleaner and better environment.

"We treat the trees like our brothers. As we tie Rakhi to our brothers expecting love, care, affection, safety and security throughout our life, the same way we should also think that the trees are also our brothers and help us... and global warming... and help us to live long without any diseases," said Akshaya, a student of Velammal Vidyalay School, Chennai.

In Lucknow, hundreds of students converged at the Lucknow Zoological Gardens to dedicate and tie Rakhis to a 150 year-old Parijat tree in the premises of the zoo. Parijat is botanically named Adansonia Digitata.

"Today, on the eve of Rakhi, we decided to tie a Rakhi to the Parijat tree (Adansonia Digitata) and we will take an oath to save all our trees," observed Renu Singh, Director, Lucknow Zoo.

And on their part, the students in right earnest took a pledge to nurture and conserve the trees. (ANI)