Bishnois have made wildlife andenvironment protection their dailyleitmotiv.

Love animalsDon't cut green treesAnd you won't face adversity in life

Guru Jambheshwar (1451-1536 AD)

Bishnois : environmentalists by CreedA photo story by ©Franck Vogel/LightMediation

Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency - +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com

2499-34: Every morning and evening, Bishnoi used to feed flocks of wild gazelles (chinkaras), peacocks, parrots, pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It is compulsory to feed wild animal for a bishnoi, and it's even truernear bishnoi temples. They donate twice a year wheat or another cereal to the temple for the animals (in total they are supposed to give 10% of their revenue to wildlife). Since more than 520 years wildlife and trees havebeen protected by those people, sometimes by giving their lives, and it's quite easy to understand that wild animals are strolling near bishnoi farm houses and temples. It's a way to be protected from poachers and even

dogs.

2499-01: Every Bishnoi family donates wheat, millet or any other cereal to feed birds and deer. They aresupposed to give 10% of their income to wildlife which is nowadays rare. In 2008, during Jamba festival,

2499-02: Rana Ram, a 67 year-old uneducated Bishnoi, follows strictly his guru's environmentalprinciples. Known in his community as the "Tree friend", he is a simple farmer who uses most of his

2499-03: Lalu Ram Bishnoi brings a gazelle orphan near the herd to try to find a step mother. It happenssometimes but it's seldom.

2499-04: Every morning and evening, Bishnoi used to feed flocks of wild gazelles (chinkaras), peacocks,parrots, pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It is compulsory to feed wild animal for a bishnoi, and it's even

2499-41: During Jamba pilgrimage around 200 000 Bishnois take sand from lower area to enlarge the pond and build huge sand dunes near the temple as their guru told them: "build dunes to break the wind". The pondwater is salty and people take bath before to pray near the Havan (holy fire).

2499-05: While a wild gazelle is strolling around, pahal (sacred water) is distributed after Havan by SwamiVishudha Nand Bishnoi at Jajiwal Dora temple. 30 days after child birth, Pahal is performed for mother and

2499-06: After taking care and bottle milk feeding two chinkara fawns (Indian wild gazelles), whosemother was killed by a dog 4 days ago, Danu Ram Bishnoi embraces them like his own children. Since

2499-07: Bishnois waiting the police near a dead wild gazelle on the road from Jodhpur to Jaleli(Rajasthan). Everything looks like a car accident but 2 bloody holes in the deer stomach seem to give

2499-08: Bishnois waiting the police near a dead wild gazelle on the road from Jodhpur to Jaleli(Rajasthan). Everything looks like a car accident but 2 bloody holes in the deer stomach seem to give

2499-14: Mukam mella is Bishnoi major pilgrimage. Twice a year Mukam becomes a huge place of worship and socio-religious gatherings. About 300 000 to 500 000 of them - some by foot - come and worship the placewhere Guru Jambheshwar did meditate for 7 year and died in 1536. He was buried in Mukam where a huge marble temple was build...like a little Taj Mahal. Havan (holy fire) and Pahal (sacred water) are performedthroughout the 3 days of the festival. Huge havan are also performed in Mukam and near the temple at Samrathal Dora. Bishnoi walk clockwise around the fire and through ghee and coconuts into the fire. During thefestival they visit 3 holy places in a range of 15km: Pipasar (place of birth), Samrathal Dora (dune where he founded Bishnoi sect), and Mukam (place where he died and was buried in 1536). At the age of 34, Guru

Jambheshwar founded Bishnoi religion at Samrathal Dora, a sand dune near Pipasar in 1485 A.D. He preached for the next 51 years, travelling across the country, his 29 commandments. Out of these 29 principles, 8focus on wildlife and environment protection to preserve biodiversity, 7 give the bases for good social behaviour, 10 are directed towards personal hygiene and good health, and the 4 remaining provide guidelines for

worshipping God daily.

2499-09: The 26 sept 07, Mr. Bhoda (Forest Wildlife Range Officer) took statement of witnesses (allBishnois) in the Jamba Forest house for the killing of 2 deers by a car on the Chaku-Jamba road. On 5th

2499-10: May 3rd 2004, Vijay Laxmi Bishnoi (22 years) from Rampura village heard the screams of a deerwhile working in the fields. She followed the voice and saw some poachers fleeing after killing a deer on

2499-11: Twice a week, Ganga Ram family is praying on his grave in Cherai (village near Phalodi). Hewas murdered while trying to save a wild gazelle from poachers the 12th August 2000, and was buried

2499-12: Omprakash Bishnoi, advocate and famous poet among Bishnoi community, created like manyothers his NGO to preserve wildlife and trees. He works with Khamu Ram Bishnoi, judicial assistant, who

2499-03: Lalu Ram Bishnoi brings a gazelle orphan near the herd to try to find a step mother. It happens sometimes but it's seldom.

2499-13: Since 2005, Khamu Ram Bishnoi, Judicial Assistant, Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur, hasdeclared war on plastic bags. He attends every major Bishnoi festival to hang streamers and surveys from

2499-14: Mukam mella is Bishnoi major pilgrimage. Twice a year Mukam becomes a huge place ofworship and socio-religious gatherings. About 300 000 to 500 000 of them - some by foot - come and

2499-15: Just before the storm an old men is pouring ghee (clarified butter) to offer it to the Havan (holyfire) during Jamba pilgrimage. Bishnois walk clockwise around the fire and throw ghee and coconuts into

2499-16: In Dhansu village, Haryana, a man prays Guru Jambheshwar. Bishnois have to be barefoot andcover their heads in temples and near holy fires.

2499-08: Bishnois waiting the police near a dead wild gazelle on the road from Jodhpur to Jaleli (Rajasthan). Everything looks like a car accident but 2 bloody holes in the deer stomach seem to give another story:poachers killed it and throw it on the road to simulate an accident.

Bishnois would give their lives to save wild gazelles by tracking down the murderer. In Rajasthan, wild gazelles are protected and anyone who kills one will be jailed for at least 5 years if it's an accident and more if he's a poacher. That's why poachers often use fast jeeps and it's difficult to catch them

with motorbikes. Nevertheless, since a couple of years, many Bishnoi families use mobile phones and it becomes easier to call a friend 5 km away to tell him to stop the car with the poachers!

2499-17: Near Lohawat village, Bishnoi women harvest ripe millet by hand, dressed with colourful redsaris and veils to cover their head and face .. only for married ones. As Guru Jambheshwar told them to

2499-18: A herd of blue bulls grazing in ripe crops is a big problem for most of farmers, not for Bishnois.They would never kill a deer but rather give part of their harvest to their "children" (black bucks, blue bulls,

2499-19: Near Lohawat village, Bishnoi women harvest ripe millet by hand, dressed with colourful redsaris and veils to cover their head and face ... only for married ones. As Guru Jambheshwar told them to

2499-20: Rajender Delu Bishnoi is one of the richest Bishnoi in Punjab mainly through kinnow farming - avariety of citrus fruit grown in Pakistan and north India, which resembles mandarin oranges. He donated a

2499-11: Twice a week, Ganga Ram family is praying on his grave in Cherai (village near Phalodi). He was murdered while trying to save a wild gazelle from poachers the 12th August 2000, and was buried near thegazelle he could rescue. He was awarded posthumously in 2001 by the President of India, the First Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wild Life Conservation. Since the 15th century, Bishnois are known for their

love of wildlife and many of them have been giving their lives to save endangered animals especially Indian gazelles and antelopes, which are endangered species.

2499-21: Khejarli temple head priest, Swami Heera Nand, explains what happened in 1730 AD when 363Bishnois gave up their lives to save trees. Two paintings displayed in the temple depict the scene. "Abhaj

2499-22: At Khejarli pilgrimage, in September each year, almost every Bishnoi family buys a little treefrom the nursery near the temple to bring home in order to plant it near the house. It is the traditional way

2499-23: At Khejarli pilgrimage, in September each year, almost every Bishnoi family buys a little treefrom the nursery near the temple to bring home in order to plant it near the house. It is the traditional way

2499-24: In the harsh Indian Thar desert, Hajari Ram Bishnoi plants a Khejari tree... most sacred treesince their guru used to teach in his shadow near his house in Jaislan. From now on, he will share his own

2499-17: Near Lohawat village, Bishnoi women harvest ripe millet by hand, dressed with colourful red saris and veils to cover their head and face .. only for married ones. As Guru Jambheshwar told them to love andtake care of wildlife, Bishnoi family devotes a part of its harvest to their "children" (black buck, gazelle, peacock, pigeon,...) in order to maintain balance in the desert.

2499-25: A Bishnoi woman watering a tree in her courtyard near Abohar in Punjab. As it is custom formarried women, she wears a red veil to cover her head. The yellow circle means that she gave birth to at

2499-26: In the beginning of the 19th century, a Bishnoi family (the Godara) came to that "no man's land"in the Thar desert.. today a small area in Punjab, at Rajasthan border - and settled down. They converted

2499-27: According to one of their 29 rules, Bishnoi carpenters never cut green trees. They wait for treesto die on their own or fall during a storm. Khair trees (Capparis decidua) and Khejari tree (Prosopis

2499-28: A Bishnoi woman prepares curd (dahi) by separating cream from milk then warms it up. Aftercooling down the milk, she adds a bowl of curd from the day before that will transform milk to curd.

2499-24: In the harsh Indian Thar desert, Hajari Ram Bishnoi plants a Khejari tree... most sacred tree since their guru used to teach in his shadow near his house in Jaislan. From now on, he will share his own water withthe tree up to 2 years. That's about the time it needs to grow old alone.

2499-29: After 30 days, each baby becomes a Bishnoi by drinking holy water (pahal). Relatives come tocelebrate the event but women stay with the mother whereas men gather in the dhani (a kind of hut only

2499-30: Swami Vishudha Nand, 37 year-old Bishnoi priest, takes care of a wounded peacock. A strangenoise made him rush out of Jajiwal temple but even by shouting and throwing stones the dogs did already

2499-31: Mangilal Bishnoi owns a small clothe shop near Bishnoi Dharamshala in Jodhpur and as a goodBishnoi he built a bird house and a little platform to feed birds in the tree outside his shop. As Guru

2499-32: During the Wildlife week (1-7 October 2007), the Forest department represented by its DistrictForest Officer, M. Bhadu Bishnoi, organizes many contest for Jodhpur school children at the zoo. Besides

2499-33: Priest Vishudha Nand performs Havan (holy fire) daily at dawn and dusk while blackbucks,gazelles and peacocks stroll around fearlessly. They trust Bishnois who protect and take care of them

2499-50: Just before the storm a woman is pouring ghee to offer it to the holy fire during Jamba festival.It's their medium to communicate with their God (Vishnu) and Guru...

2499-35: Rajender Bishnoi (28 years), wildlife office employee, saved 2 days ago a little gazelle fawn fromdogs. He took it home in Kherpur village (Punjab) and is now feeding and taking care of its broken leg. His

2499-51: Havan (holy fire) are performed throughout the 2 days of Jamba pilgrimage but not at nightbecause mosquitoes would be attracted by the fire and therefore be burnt. Not acceptable for those animal

2499-30: Swami Vishudha Nand, 37 year-old Bishnoi priest, takes care of a wounded peacock. A strange noise made him rush out of Jajiwal temple but even by shouting and throwing stones the dogs did already bitequite badly the bird. "He'll die in 20 min...", says Swami after taking him inside the shelter. While he sprays antiseptic on wounds a motherless fawn smells grippingly around.

2499-37: Every morning and evening, Bishnoi used to feed flocks of wild gazelles (chinkaras), peacocks,parrots, pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It is compulsory to feed wild animal for a bishnoi, and it's even

2499-38: Ashok Bishnoi (49 years), wildlife officer in Abohar sanctuary, is the grand son of Sand KumarBishnoi, founder of "All India Wildlife Protection by Bishnoi Community". He seats very proudly near his

2499-39: Still under construction, the new Bishnoi temple in Jamba welcomes twice a year 200 000 to 300000 Bishnois who gather and worship the place where their Guru created a pond. In April 2008, Bishnoi

2499-40: In Pipasar (Rajasthan), Guru Jambheshwar's place of birth (1451 AD), Bishnoi walk clockwisearound the fire and throw ghee (clarified butter) and coconuts into the huge fire while praying. The fire is

2499-49: Omprakash Bishnoi prays Guru Jambheshwar for an orphan gazelle he just brought to Lohawattemple.

2499-42: During Mukam pilgrimage, Bishnois take with their scarf or plastic bags sand from lower areasand build huge sand dunes near the temple as their guru told them: "build dunes to break the wind and

2499-43: During Mukam pilgrimage, Bishnois take sand with their scarf from lower areas and build hugesand dunes near the temple as their guru told them: "build dunes to break the wind and save biodiversity".

2499-44: Khamu Ram had a dream: "Remove polyethylene (plastic bags,...) from pilgrimage areas". Hedecided therefore alone with his own money to educate people. Since 2005, he hangs banners all over the

2499-36: Every morning and evening, Bishnois used to feed flocks of wild gazelles (chinkaras), peacocks, parrots, pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It is compulsory to feed wild animal for Bishnois, and it's even truernear temples. They donate twice a year wheat or another cereal to the temple for the animals. In total they are supposed to give 10% of their revenues to wildlife. Since more than 520 years wildlife and trees have beenprotected by those people, sometimes by giving their lives, and it's quite easy to understand that wild animals are strolling near Bishnoi farm houses and temples. It's a way to be protected from poachers and even dogs.

2499-45: Bishnois men dry their scarf, turban and clothes after their morning bath in Jamba pond. Theyare now ready to go near the havan (holy fire) to offer ghee and coconuts, and pray both Lord Vishnu and

2499-46: The night before Mukam pilgrimage begins, small havans (holy fire) are performed near the mainmarble temple. Twice a year Mukam becomes a huge place of worship and socio-religious gatherings.

2499-47: Havan (holy fire) are performed throughout the 2 days of Jamba pilgrimage (except at nightbecause they don't want to kill mosquitoes). Bishnoi offer clarified butter (ghee) and coconuts to the fire.

2499-48: Still under construction, the new Bishnoi temple in Jamba welcomes twice a year 200 000 to 300000 Bishnois who gather and worship the place where their Guru created a pond. In April 2008, Bishnoi

Bishnois : environmentalists byCreed

Harsh and dry, with temperatures over 50°C, Indian Thar Desert or "Land ofthe Dead" is yet the most populous in the world. The secret of this survivallies obviously in people's lifestyle: Bishnois of Rajasthan are protecting treesand wildlife by creed as their guru taught them 500 years ago. Every form oflife around them is a member of their family that deserves care andaffection: demoiselle cranes are sisters of their women, endangered blackbucks antelopes are their sons, oxen members of their family, and Khejaritrees their holy men. In our world where environmental issues are alwaysmore pressing, Bishnoi age-old traditions can certainly teach us something.

Often called the "world's first environmentalists", they follow 29 principleslaid out in 1485 by their guru Jambheshwar, when he founded the Bishnoisect after a severe drought. The name is derived from Bis (meaning 20) andNoi (9). Several of those rules are dedicated to environmental protectionand compassion for living being. Indeed, each family plants every year newtrees, uses only dry wood for its needs, creates a water tank to collectrainwater and devotes a part of its harvest to their "children" (black buck,gazelle, peacock, pigeon,...) in order to maintain balance in the desert. Suchis the dedication of those strict vegetarians that they nurse ill or injuredanimals and never keep dogs for fear that they could prey one. WhereasBishnoi women are known to breast-feed motherless fawns, almost everyyear a man dies while chasing violently a poacher or defending a beautifulblack buck. As a result, trees are flourishing and antelopes are still grazingfearlessly within their settlements in the desert.

This little community - less than a million - got briefly Indian media attentionin 1998 when Bollywood superstar, Salman Khan, killed two black bucksnear Khejarli, their most holy sanctuary where 363 Bishnois gave their livesto saves Khejari trees from Maharaja's axes in 1730. The actor was chasedand arrested by Bishnois and handed over to Indian justice. After severalcorruption attempts and appeals, he was sentenced to 5 years of jail by the

Court in 2007. Surprisingly, a movie based on that case is planned by theBollywood studios?and might highlight Bishnoi's crucial role in protecting theenvironment.

Long before the Green Movement in the West, Bishnois were there in thedesert, living in harmony with nature, ready to give their lives to protect it. Assaid Amrita Devi, first to offer her head to Maharaja's soldiers: « Sar santeyrookh rahe to bhi sasto jaan », a chopped head is cheaper then a felled tree.

Captions

2499-01: Every Bishnoi family donateswheat, millet or any other cereal to feedbirds and deer. They are supposed to give10% of their income to wildlife which isnowadays rare. In 2008, during Jambafestival, men hurry up to collect the grainsto put them in a safe place just before ahuge storm. Twice a year, Jamba (aBishnoi village near Phalodi) become afestival place where 200 000 to 300 000Bishnois gather and worship the placewhere Guru Jambheshwar founded apond. The water is salty and people takebath before doing Puja (prayers) near theHavan (holy fire). The place is like anoasis in desert.

2499-02: Rana Ram, a 67 year-olduneducated Bishnoi, follows strictly hisguru's environmental principles. Known inhis community as the "Tree friend", he is asimple farmer who uses most of hismoney to buy trees from nurseries andplant or gift them to schools and publicplace. He planted around 22.000 trees in38 years and if wells were dry he wentwith his camel 15km to get some water forhis crops...He even managed to have 3 by6 meter plot with grass at home. Everymorning and evening, he feeds wildgazelles and birds near his house in AkelKhori, a little village deep in the Thardesert in Rajasthan. In 2002, he wasawarded by the State of Rajasthan for hisdeeds. He is a relative of Khama RamBishnoi, the man who wants to clean thedesert from "polyethylene" or plastic.

2499-03: Lalu Ram Bishnoi brings agazelle orphan near the herd to try to finda step mother. It happens sometimes butit's seldom.

2499-04: Every morning and evening,Bishnoi used to feed flocks of wildgazelles (chinkaras), peacocks, parrots,pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It iscompulsory to feed wild animal for abishnoi, and it's even truer near bishnoitemples. They donate twice a year wheator another cereal to the temple for theanimals (in total they are supposed to give10% of their revenue to wildlife). Sincemore than 520 years wildlife and treeshave been protected by those people,sometimes by giving their lives, and it'squite easy to understand that wild animalsare strolling near bishnoi farm houses andtemples. It's a way to be protected frompoachers and even dogs.

2499-05: While a wild gazelle is strollingaround, pahal (sacred water) is distributedafter Havan by Swami Vishudha NandBishnoi at Jajiwal Dora temple. 30 daysafter child birth, Pahal is performed formother and child. The baby becomes aBishnoi after drinking the sacred water.The 1st Bishnoi rule is also to observesegregation of the mother and newbornfor 30 days after delivery

2499-06: After taking care and bottle milkfeeding two chinkara fawns (Indian wildgazelles), whose mother was killed by adog 4 days ago, Danu Ram Bishnoiembraces them like his own children.Since 500 years, Bishnois have madewildlife and environment protection theirdaily leitmotiv.Unfortunately, a couple of days later thebabies died, as did Danu Ram in a tragicrickshaw accident with a truck six monthlater on March 25th 2008.

2499-07: Bishnois waiting the police neara dead wild gazelle on the road from

Jodhpur to Jaleli (Rajasthan). Everythinglooks like a car accident but 2 bloodyholes in the deer stomach seem to giveanother story: poachers killed it and throwit on the road to simulate an accident.Bishnois would give their lives to save wildgazelles by tracking down the murderer. In Rajasthan, wild gazelles are protectedand anyone who kills one will be jailed forat least 5 years if it's an accident andmore if he's a poacher. That's whypoachers often use fast jeeps and it'sdifficult to catch them with motorbikes.Nevertheless, since a couple of years,many Bishnoi families use mobile phonesand it becomes easier to call a friend 5 kmaway to tell him to stop the car with thepoachers!

2499-08: Bishnois waiting the police neara dead wild gazelle on the road fromJodhpur to Jaleli (Rajasthan). Everythinglooks like a car accident but 2 bloodyholes in the deer stomach seem to giveanother story: poachers killed it and throwit on the road to simulate an accident.Bishnois would give their lives to save wildgazelles by tracking down the murderer. In Rajasthan, wild gazelles are protectedand anyone who kills one will be jailed forat least 5 years if it's an accident andmore if he's a poacher. That's whypoachers often use fast jeeps and it'sdifficult to catch them with motorbikes.Nevertheless, since a couple of years,many Bishnoi families use mobile phonesand it becomes easier to call a friend 5 kmaway to tell him to stop the car with thepoachers!

2499-09: The 26 sept 07, Mr. Bhoda(Forest Wildlife Range Officer) tookstatement of witnesses (all Bishnois) in theJamba Forest house for the killing of 2deers by a car on the Chaku-Jamba road.On 5th July 2007, Durga Dan Charan (in

green on the picture) was driving 4Bishnois around 8pm when a deer jumpedon the road and got killed. After restaring, another one jumped and got killed too.The four Bishnois caught the driver andbrought him to the police, where a RangeOfficer got him to a magistrate in Phalodi.Since killing a protected specie is aserious offence, he got immediately 15days of jail (5 to 20th july 07). He is nowon bail, as well as his car, andinvestigations are still running. The trialwill last 2-3 years and if the magistratefinds him guilty he'll go back to jail for 3 to7 years + 25 000 Rs penalty + loss of thecar, which becomes government property.Since it's an accidental case, the drivershould get only 1 year...

2499-10: May 3rd 2004, Vijay LaxmiBishnoi (22 years) from Rampura villageheard the screams of a deer while workingin the fields. She followed the voice andsaw some poachers fleeing after killing adeer on the outskirts of her village. Anewly born deer was also lying injured.She immediately brought the fawn to herhouse and as the deer refused to drinkmilk from the bottle, she decided to breastfeed it like her two-year-old son. She didrear the fawn more than 3 months. It isseldom but every year till now such nobleacts happen in Bishnoi village.

2499-11: Twice a week, Ganga Ramfamily is praying on his grave in Cherai(village near Phalodi). He was murderedwhile trying to save a wild gazelle frompoachers the 12th August 2000, and wasburied near the gazelle he could rescue.He was awarded posthumously in 2001 bythe President of India, the First AmritaDevi Bishnoi National Award for Wild LifeConservation. Since the 15th century,Bishnois are known for their love of wildlifeand many of them have been giving their

lives to save endangered animalsespecially Indian gazelles and antelopes,which are endangered species.

2499-12: Omprakash Bishnoi, advocateand famous poet among Bishnoicommunity, created like many others hisNGO to preserve wildlife and trees. Heworks with Khamu Ram Bishnoi, judicialassistant, who decided 3 years ago toteach his community how to clean thedesert from plastic bags! In India, like inEurope, you get a plastic bag foreverything you buy and since there areneither trash bins nor programs to informpeople about environment pollution, theproblem is getting unsolved.

2499-13: Since 2005, Khamu RamBishnoi, Judicial Assistant, Rajasthan HighCourt at Jodhpur, has declared war onplastic bags. He attends every majorBishnoi festival to hang streamers andsurveys from dawn to late at night with hisloud-healer to inform while he collectswasted plastic from the sand..., and allthat with his meager civil servant salary. "For several years now plastic bags aregiven with every sold item and peoplethrow them away like former bananaleaves" Guru Jambheswhar did not expectthat while teaching his 29 rules 500 yearsback. Since nobody took care of theproblem, Khamu Ram Bishnoi dedicatedhis life to fight for it. In October 2007, hemanaged to give cotton bags - providedby a seed company - to pilgrims to collectsand from a holy pond near the Samrathaldune, where the Guru founded the Bishnoireligion in 1485. Most pilgrims acceptedand thanked him. A huge achievementagainst plastic pollution awarded by the

Bishnoi community. The holy places arenow cleaner but with 100 000 to 500 000people per festival there is still a lot ofwork to spread the message and make hisdream come true ! In December 2008, hewas invited to the InternationalPlanetworkshops in Courchevel in France,which brought him even more credit. Heseems to be writting the 30th rule !

2499-14: Mukam mella is Bishnoi majorpilgrimage. Twice a year Mukam becomesa huge place of worship andsocio-religious gatherings. About 300 000to 500 000 of them - some by foot - comeand worship the place where GuruJambheshwar did meditate for 7 year anddied in 1536. He was buried in Mukamwhere a huge marble temple wasbuild...like a little Taj Mahal. Havan (holyfire) and Pahal (sacred water) areperformed throughout the 3 days of thefestival. Huge havan are also performed inMukam and near the temple at SamrathalDora. Bishnoi walk clockwise around thefire and through ghee and coconuts intothe fire. During the festival they visit 3 holyplaces in a range of 15km: Pipasar (placeof birth), Samrathal Dora (dune where hefounded Bishnoi sect), and Mukam (placewhere he died and was buried in 1536). Atthe age of 34, Guru Jambheshwarfounded Bishnoi religion at SamrathalDora, a sand dune near Pipasar in 1485A.D. He preached for the next 51 years,travelling across the country, his 29commandments. Out of these 29principles, 8 focus on wildlife andenvironment protection to preservebiodiversity, 7 give the bases for goodsocial behaviour, 10 are directed towardspersonal hygiene and good health, andthe 4 remaining provide guidelines forworshipping God daily.

2499-15: Just before the storm an old men

is pouring ghee (clarified butter) to offer itto the Havan (holy fire) during Jambapilgrimage. Bishnois walk clockwisearound the fire and throw ghee andcoconuts into the huge fire while praying.The fire is supposed to purify air to givebetter access to their guru. April 2008was exceptional in many ways...Indeed,the first day of the festival (April 5th) at 6pm a huge sand storm followed by heavyrain and finally a hail storm knocked theBishnois down. They thought their Guruwas not happy with them and some didpray under the pouring ice near the holyfire that was put out by the storm! It wasan apocalypse scene in the desert.Everybody was looking for a shelter... The second day at 6 am a young mandrowned in the pond and died (the watergot higher at night). Since there was notlifeguard neither any help provided byofficials to the family the crowd protestedso violently that the police had to urge.Finally, the political meeting wascancelled!

2499-16: In Dhansu village, Haryana, aman prays Guru Jambheshwar. Bishnoishave to be barefoot and cover their headsin temples and near holy fires.

2499-17: Near Lohawat village, Bishnoiwomen harvest ripe millet by hand,dressed with colourful red saris and veilsto cover their head and face .. only formarried ones. As Guru Jambheshwar toldthem to love and take care of wildlife,Bishnoi family devotes a part of its harvestto their "children" (black buck, gazelle,peacock, pigeon,...) in order to maintainbalance in the desert.

2499-18: A herd of blue bulls grazing inripe crops is a big problem for most offarmers, not for Bishnois. They wouldnever kill a deer but rather give part of

their harvest to their "children" (blackbucks, blue bulls, gazelles, peacocks,...).If herds start to devastate the crops,Bishnois would eventually chase them abitÉthey are only supposed to share 10% !

2499-19: Near Lohawat village, Bishnoiwomen harvest ripe millet by hand,dressed with colourful red saris and veilsto cover their head and face ... only formarried ones. As Guru Jambheshwar toldthem to love and take care of wildlife,Bishnoi family devotes a part of its harvestto their "children" (black buck, gazelle,peacock, pigeon,...) in order to maintainbalance in the desert.

2499-20: Rajender Delu Bishnoi is one ofthe richest Bishnoi in Punjab mainlythrough kinnow farming - a variety of citrusfruit grown in Pakistan and north India,which resembles mandarin oranges. Hedonated a large amount of money for thenew temple in Jamba.His family was the 2nd to migrate fromRajasthan to Punjab in the 1850's.

2499-21: Khejarli temple head priest,Swami Heera Nand, explains whathappened in 1730 AD when 363 Bishnoisgave up their lives to save trees. Twopaintings displayed in the temple depictthe scene. "Abhaj Singh, Maharaja ofJodhpur, wanted to build a new royalmansion for which lime was required. Limestone was available, but it needed to beburnt before use. He sent his soldiers tocut trees in near Bishnoi villages. Peopleprotested but it didn't matter until AmritaDevi hugged a Khejari tree and said: "Achopped head is cheaper then a felledtree". Saying these words she offered herhead. 363 Bishnois from 84 villages intotal gave up their lives either being haxedby soldiers or committing suicide (aftertaking a bath). When the king heard about

this human sacrifice, he stopped theoperation, and apologized for the mistakecommitted by his official and gave theBishnois state protection for their belief.The statement was written on a copperplate: no tree cutting, no wildlife killingnear Bishnoi villages." Maharaja GajSingh (interview in 2007) remembers hischildhood when nobody was allowed to killanimals in that area. They had otherplaces for game-killing. He agreed alsothat something must have occurred, evenif nothing is registered, but people at thattime might have exaggerated figures.

2499-22: At Khejarli pilgrimage, inSeptember each year, almost everyBishnoi family buys a little tree from thenursery near the temple to bring home inorder to plant it near the house. It is thetraditional way to pay respect to the 363people who gave up their lives to savetrees from Maharaja of Jodhpur's axes in1730 AD. A memorial was also built tocommemorate the event. Like in everypilgrimage, Bishnois offer ghee (clarifiedbutter) and coconuts to the holy fire. It'stheir way the pray and communicate withtheir guru.

2499-23: At Khejarli pilgrimage, inSeptember each year, almost everyBishnoi family buys a little tree from thenursery near the temple to bring home inorder to plant it near the house. It is thetraditional way to pay respect to the 363people who gave up their lives to savetrees from Maharaja of Jodhpur's axes in1730 AD. A memorial was also built tocommemorate the event.

2499-24: In the harsh Indian Thar desert,Hajari Ram Bishnoi plants a Khejari tree...most sacred tree since their guru used toteach in his shadow near his house inJaislan. From now on, he will share hisown water with the tree up to 2 years.That's about the time it needs to grow oldalone.

2499-25: A Bishnoi woman watering a treein her courtyard near Abohar in Punjab.As it is custom for married women, shewears a red veil to cover her head. Theyellow circle means that she gave birth toat least one boy, which is still veryimportant in India. A green circle wouldmean only girls. The courtyard and thewall are covered with cow mud and oftenpainted. Bishnoi women used to clean thehouse and courtyard twice a day and thecow mud is refreshed twice a year.

2499-26: In the beginning of the 19thcentury, a Bishnoi family (the Godara)came to that "no man's land" in the Thardesert.. today a small area in Punjab, atRajasthan border - and settled down.They converted the desert to fertile landby planting many trees and usingirrigation. Since there is much more waterthan in Rajasthan, Bishnoi families fromPunjab have higher yields and aretherefore richer. They're also used to plantKinnow tree, a kind of mandarin orange, inwheat fields.

2499-27: According to one of their 29rules, Bishnoi carpenters never cut greentrees. They wait for trees to die on theirown or fall during a storm. Khair trees(Capparis decidua) and Khejari tree(Prosopis Cineraria) have beentraditionally protected by the Bishnois ofRajasthan, a remarkable phenomenon inthe field of conservation, both ofvegetation and soil. Khair provides strong

and durable wood that is resistant to whiteants and therefore used by Bishnois fortheir house frameworks. It lastly alsoproduces a fruit that is edible both freshand preserved.

2499-28: A Bishnoi woman prepares curd(dahi) by separating cream from milk thenwarms it up. After cooling down the milk,she adds a bowl of curd from the daybefore that will transform milk to curd.

2499-29: After 30 days, each babybecomes a Bishnoi by drinking holy water(pahal). Relatives come to celebrate theevent but women stay with the motherwhereas men gather in the dhani (a kindof hut only for men).

2499-30: Swami Vishudha Nand, 37year-old Bishnoi priest, takes care of awounded peacock. A strange noise madehim rush out of Jajiwal temple but even byshouting and throwing stones the dogs didalready bite quite badly the bird. "He'll diein 20 min...", says Swami after taking himinside the shelter. While he spraysantiseptic on wounds a motherless fawnsmells grippingly around.

2499-31: Mangilal Bishnoi owns a smallclothe shop near Bishnoi Dharamshala inJodhpur and as a good Bishnoi he built abird house and a little platform to feedbirds in the tree outside his shop. As GuruJambheshwar - portrait behind Mangilal -taught his people, Mangilal protectswildlife and takes care of injured animals.He saved that pigeon from dogs and tookcare of his broken wing for a couple weeksand now he plans to give it freedom insome days.

2499-32: During the Wildlife week (1-7October 2007), the Forest departmentrepresented by its District Forest Officer,

M. Bhadu Bishnoi, organizes manycontest for Jodhpur school children at thezoo. Besides essay writing, wildlife quiz,animal voices and many other conteststhere was the painting one: Dipika Aseri(12 years) got the 3rd price for her nicepeacocks. It a very good way to makechildren from other castes sensitive toenvironment and wildlife protection.

2499-33: Priest Vishudha Nand performsHavan (holy fire) daily at dawn and duskwhile blackbucks, gazelles and peacocksstroll around fearlessly. They trustBishnois who protect and take care ofthem since 500 years! The holy fire isused to purify air and people's mind toease prayers to Lord Vishnu and GuruJambheshwar. After morning bath, one ofBishnoi 29 rules, they seat - head coveredwith turban - near the Havan and offerghee (clarified butter) and coconuts as agift to God.

2499-50: Just before the storm a womanis pouring ghee to offer it to the holy fireduring Jamba festival. It's their medium tocommunicate with their God (Vishnu) andGuru...

2499-35: Rajender Bishnoi (28 years),wildlife office employee, saved 2 days agoa little gazelle fawn from dogs. He took ithome in Kherpur village (Punjab) and isnow feeding and taking care of its brokenleg. His nephews Vikram (12 years) andAmandeep Bishnoi (9 years) are comingregularly to visit the deer.

2499-51: Havan (holy fire) are performedthroughout the 2 days of Jambapilgrimage but not at night becausemosquitoes would be attracted by the fireand therefore be burnt. Not acceptable forthose animal lovers. The holy fire is lit atsunrise and Bishnoi pilgrims walk

clockwise around it and throw ghee andcoconuts into the fire. Twice a year,Jamba (Bishnoi village near Phalodi)become a place where 200 000 to 300000 Bishnois gather and worship the placewhere Guru Jambheshwar prayed andfounded a pond.In our world where environmental issuesare always more pressing, Bishnoi age-oldtraditions can certainly teach ussomething. Are we ready to listen?

2499-37: Every morning and evening,Bishnoi used to feed flocks of wildgazelles (chinkaras), peacocks, parrots,pigeons...some are even hand-fed. It iscompulsory to feed wild animal for abishnoi, and it's even truer near bishnoitemples. They donate twice a year wheator another cereal to the temple for theanimals (in total they are supposed to give10% of their revenue to wildlife). Sincemore than 520 years wildlife and treeshave been protected by those people,sometimes by giving their lives, and it'squite easy to understand that wild animalsare strolling near bishnoi farm houses andtemples. It's a way to be protected frompoachers and even dogs.

2499-38: Ashok Bishnoi (49 years), wildlifeofficer in Abohar sanctuary, is the grandson of Sand Kumar Bishnoi, founder of"All India Wildlife Protection by BishnoiCommunity". He seats very proudly nearhis grand father "Indira GandhiEnvironment Prize". The highest award forenvironment given for the first time to aBishnoi by India's Prime Minister in 1992.

2499-39: Still under construction, the newBishnoi temple in Jamba welcomes twice

a year 200 000 to 300 000 Bishnois whogather and worship the place where theirGuru created a pond. In April 2008,Bishnoi experienced an exceptional icestorm during the festival that put out theholy fire!

2499-40: In Pipasar (Rajasthan), GuruJambheshwar's place of birth (1451 AD),Bishnoi walk clockwise around the fire andthrow ghee (clarified butter) and coconutsinto the huge fire while praying. The fire issupposed to purify air to give betteraccess to their guru.

2499-49: Omprakash Bishnoi prays GuruJambheshwar for an orphan gazelle hejust brought to Lohawat temple.

2499-42: During Mukam pilgrimage,Bishnois take with their scarf or plasticbags sand from lower areas and buildhuge sand dunes near the temple as theirguru told them: "build dunes to break thewind and save biodiversity". Some, mainlyfarmers, build near holy places tiny duneswith a branch on top to give them morecrops. Nowadays, some "modern" Bishnoibusinessmen are doing the same...to getmore money. Getting rich is not taboo inHinduism.

2499-43: During Mukam pilgrimage,Bishnois take sand with their scarf fromlower areas and build huge sand dunesnear the temple as their guru told them:"build dunes to break the wind and savebiodiversity". Some, mainly farmers, buildnear holy places tiny dunes with a branchon top to give them more crops.Nowadays, some "modern" Bishnoibusinessmen are doing the same...to getmore money. Getting rich is not taboo inHinduism.

2499-44: Khamu Ram had a dream:

"Remove polyethylene (plastic bags,...)from pilgrimage areas". He decidedtherefore alone with his own money toeducate people. Since 2005, he hangsbanners all over the festival sites and isshouting in his megaphone to stop peoplethrowing "polyethylene" everywhere.Some people don't understand andbecome aggressive and politicians don'tseem to be very helpful. Nevertheless hemanaged to involve some students, and aseed company, which gave him freecotton bags. Those bags are given to thepilgrims to collect sand and ground nearSamrathal Dora and throw it on the top ofthe sand hills. A huge achievementagainst plastic pollution! In December2008, he was invited to the InternationalPlanetworkshops in Courchevel in France,which brought him even more credit. Heseems to be writting the 30th rule !

2499-45: Bishnois men dry their scarf,turban and clothes after their morning bathin Jamba pond. They are now ready to gonear the havan (holy fire) to offer gheeand coconuts, and pray both Lord Vishnuand Guru Jambheshwar, who founded awater pond in the middle of the desertaccording to their faith.

2499-46: The night before Mukampilgrimage begins, small havans (holy fire)are performed near the main marbletemple. Twice a year Mukam becomes ahuge place of worship and socio-religiousgatherings. About 300 000 to 500 000 ofthem, some by foot, come and worship theplace where Guru Jambheshwar didmeditate for 7 year and died in 1536. Hewas buried in Mukam where a hugemarble temple was build...like a little TajMahal.

2499-47: Havan (holy fire) are performedthroughout the 2 days of Jamba

pilgrimage (except at night because theydon't want to kill mosquitoes). Bishnoioffer clarified butter (ghee) and coconutsto the fire. Every day of their life they praythat way: alone, with family, at home,...

2499-48: Still under construction, the newBishnoi temple in Jamba welcomes twicea year 200 000 to 300 000 Bishnois whogather and worship the place where theirGuru created a pond. In April 2008,Bishnoi experienced an exceptional icestorm during the festival that put out theholy fire!