ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON THE RELIGIOUS PLANTS OF SOUNLA VILLAGE OF DISTRICT TEHRI GARHWAL.

Hindu religion and culture firmly believed that all constituents of our ambient nature are part and creation of God itself. The God has bestowed some specific powers to certain plants, animals and even rivers, mountains and places which play an important role in human life. Ethnobotany includes all aspects of natural and direct relationship of plants with people. Ethnobotanical knowledge encompasses both wild and domesticated species, and is rooted in observation, relationship, needs and traditional ways of knowing. It can be defined as sacred beliefs, a system of good or evil, faith and worship of supernatural beings and explaining everything in this universe as an act of supernatural beings. There is a need to document the valuable knowledge as it is diminishing very rapidly. During the survey 30 plants belonging to 22 families used for religious purposes have been documented because the local communities and cultures are day by day extincting and with them goes their traditional folklore. An initiative has taken to document the ethnic knowledge regarding the usage of religious plants in Sounla Village of district TehriGarhwal. The scientific documentation of the plant species which are used in socio-culture and religious activities will definitely give encouragement to the local people.