As part of conservation of Palmyra trees, the 4th edition of the Palmyra Dream Festival (Panai Kanavu Vizha – in Tamil), a one-day cultural and environmental celebration, drew a large crowd of enthusiastic participants.
Held with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging the preservation of Palmyra trees — once abundant across Tamil Nadu but now facing extinction — the festival spotlighted the ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance of this iconic tree. Traditionally, a row of Palmyra trees is considered a visual delight. Moreover, local beliefs hold that when Palmyra and Neem trees grow side by side, groundwater can be found within just ten feet — highlighting their importance in traditional water conservation practices.
The event blended community participation with cultural pride, inspiring renewed interest in safeguarding Tamil Nadu’s native biodiversity.
The Palmyra tree’s trunk, leaves, nungu (ice apples), fruits, roots, and all its parts — like the coconut tree — were once an integral part of people’s lives. It is often referred to as Kalpaviruksha (the divine tree that provides all). According to locals, “Gone are the days when we had over 50 crore Palmyra trees. Today, the number has come down to just 5 crore. Once, around 10 lakh people depended on these trees for their livelihood; now, that number has dwindled to 10,000, many of whom are merely daily wage earners.”
The organisers of the festival aimed to preserve and conserve the Palmyra trees and promote products such as ice apples, palm sugar, palm candy, Palmyra Kizhangu, and the health drink toddy. To revive the livelihoods of Palmyra tree workers, the Palmyra Dream Festival is being organised for the fourth successive year.
Toddy is a natural alternative to chemical-laden liquor and arrack. However, in Tamil Nadu, the government has banned the production of toddy from both Palmyra and coconut trees. It has consistently rejected appeals and continues to criminalise toddy tapping as an offence. This decision has deeply affected the lives of tree climbers and those who make palm sugar, hand fans, and other products using the leaves.
The festival was held at Narasinganur on 24 May, in Vembi Madura Purigudisai village, Vikravandi taluk, Villupuram district. Over 3,000 visitors thronged the festival area — dancing, performing martial arts and fire dances. Professional and trained climbers scaled the palm trees with ropes tied around their hips and legs, demonstrating that their skills remain intact. Visitors were served padaneer, the nectar of Palmyra flowers, and toddy free of cost. They also enjoyed ice apples and palm candy.
Various associations that have long demanded the legalisation of toddy tapping took part in the event. Tamil Nadu Palm Tree Climbers Protection Association functionary D. Pandian, who convened the festival, stated that the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act of 1937 outlines penalties for toddy extraction, but classifies it as a bailable offence. However, the government labelled toddy as an alcoholic beverage following complaints of adulteration, aimed at creating an intoxicating effect. Pandian noted that toddy tapping was legal in Tamil Nadu during the 1970s and 1980s, with government-run toddy shops. “Brewing spurious or adulterated liquor certainly deserves punishment, but toddy tapping is an entirely different, traditional livelihood,” he emphasised.
Pandian further explained that toddy is tapped between December and May, with peak production during the summer months. Each tree yields between two to five litres per day, with each litre sold discreetly for ₹100. Padaneer, another by-product, is sold at ₹120 per litre. He admitted that toddy tappers often bribe police officers to continue their trade. Not only men and women, but even young girls are now being trained to climb Palmyra trees — to harvest fruits, tap toddy, and prune leaves. In a widely-shared video, a young girl named Harris Karishma can be seen scaling a tree with grace and ease, inviting people to attend the festival.
Before the festival began, locals, along with their families, held a procession, performed poojas for the Palmyra trees, and offered them food, expressing gratitude to the tree that supports their livelihoods. The Palmyra climbers also took out a procession. Martial arts like Silambam, stage dramas, and poetry recitations in praise of Palmyra trees were conducted.
Naam Tamilar Katchi founder Seeman and toddy movement organiser Nallasamy spoke at the event, both demanding the removal of the ban on toddy tapping.
