This tradition spans generations: families arrive annually, relying on the Magh Mela as a vital source of income through boat services for pilgrims. Many carry licenses from previous years as proof of their long-standing participation. Yet this year, a bureaucratic hurdle has left them stranded.
The Miyawaki forests grow rapidly and offer significant environmental advantages, including reducing air and water pollution, preventing soil erosion, and fostering biodiversity.
Timely community action and strengthened health services will determine how many more young lives are placed at risk before cooler weather arrives, health workers say.