Sacred forest traditions thrive in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. Every village has at least one sacred grove, known as devakadu, in this region; some have ten or more. According to the forest department, there are well over 1,000 sacred groves here, covering an area of 2,500 hectares. The devakadus in the Kodagu region are managed and protected by local communities, even though they are recognised by state authorities. Distributed through the landscape, they represent diverse microclimatic conditions and harbour a dizzying array of biodiversity. The gods too, are equally numerous – many believe that there are at least 120 deities and unique forms of worship practiced in these groves.Photograph: Prasenjeet Yadav

Sacred Groves

by Team Nature inFocus

Sacred forest traditions thrive in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. Every village has at least one sacred grove, known as devakadu, in this region; some have ten or more. According to the forest department, there are well over 1,000 sacred groves here, covering an area of 2,500 hectares. The devakadus in the Kodagu region are managed and protected by local communities, even though they are recognised by state authorities. Distributed through the landscape, they represent diverse microclimatic conditions and harbour a dizzying array of biodiversity. The gods too, are equally numerous – many believe that there are at least 120 deities and unique forms of worship practiced in these groves.

Photograph: Prasenjeet Yadav