Trust officials and Lions Club members on stage during the injured birds health camp in Godhra (January 14, 2013).
In a compassionate response to the Uttarayan kite festival, Shri Jivkalyan Panjarapole Trust organized an “Injured Birds Health Camp” on January 14, 2013, at the Jivdaya Dham campus in Godhra. The camp, held right after the festival, provided urgent care to birds wounded by razor-sharp kite strings. Volunteers, including members of the local Lions Club, set up treatment stalls and first-aid stations. Veterinary experts and Jain community members worked side by side, tending to dozens of birds – from pigeons to kites – that had suffered cuts and falls during the celebrations.
Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) is a joyous occasion of kite flying in Gujarat, but it also leads to countless bird injuries every year. At the camp, rescuers carefully brought in injured birds for on-site surgery and nursing. Organizers reported that many birds arrived in shock, often with cut wings or other severe trauma. Thanks to prompt treatment, a significant number of these birds survived and were rehabilitated. The trust’s initiative drew praise from the community; attendees noted that raising awareness was as important as the medical care itself. “Jivdaya” (compassion for living beings) is a core principle for us, a trustee said, and this camp embodied that spirit by saving innocent lives. The success of the one-day camp has encouraged the trust to make it an annual endeavor, aligning with similar efforts across Gujarat where thousands of birds require help each Uttarayan. Local authorities also supported the cause, urging citizens to use safer kite strings and to immediately report injured wildlife to such rescue camps.