WASHINGTON, October 4, 2026 — The Washington-area Sikh community has pledged support for EcoSikh’s plan to establish 75 forests of native Punjab trees in and around Amritsar as part of celebrations marking the historic city’s 450th anniversary.
The initiative was highlighted at EcoSikh’s annual Musical Evening Gala, which brought together community leaders, families, environmental supporters and philanthropists to promote environmental conservation and a greener future for the holy city.
Dr. Rajwant Singh, founder and Global President of EcoSikh, said the organization plans to plant 450 forests in and around Amritsar. Each forest will contain approximately 550 native Punjab trees, with the larger campaign aiming to plant a total of 250,000 trees.
The 75-forest plan represents an additional 41,250 trees, bringing the combined number of trees planted or committed through these efforts to more than 96,000.
“The 450th anniversary of Amritsar gives us an opportunity to celebrate the city’s sacred history through meaningful environmental seva,” said Dr. Gunpreet Kaur, President of EcoSikh USA. She said the initiative would help create cleaner, healthier and more resilient spaces for people, wildlife and future generations.
EcoSikh has planted approximately 55,000 trees in Amritsar since 2022, including more than 40,000 trees at the historic Chali Khooh site, located a few miles from Darbar Sahib, commonly known as the Golden Temple.
According to EcoSikh officials, the native forests will support biodiversity, provide shade, improve soil health, create habitats for birds and wildlife, and help strengthen the city’s ecological resilience.
The gala featured acclaimed singer Devenderpal Singh of Mumbai, known for his appearance on Indian Idol. Now in its eighth year, the annual event supports EcoSikh’s global environmental initiatives.
Manpreet Kaur Singh, Secretary of EcoSikh USA, said the event connected the Washington Sikh diaspora with Punjab’s ecological future through music, fellowship and seva, highlighting environmental stewardship as an expression of Sikh values.
Founded in 2009, EcoSikh has branches in the United States, India, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The organization aims to encourage Sikh communities worldwide to participate in environmental conservation.
The cost of planting one forest of 550 native trees is $1,300, including two years of maintenance by EcoSikh.
Founded by Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru, Amritsar has been a spiritual, cultural and community centre for Sikhs around the world for 450 years. The anniversary initiative seeks to honour the city’s historic legacy while creating a lasting environmental contribution for future generations.
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