Bhoomi Pooja is of great importance in Hinduism and is an important puja and worship performed before any kind of construction including houses and other buildings. Hindu Religion Bhoomi Pooja is based on the axiom that the Bhoomi or Mother Earth is a living entity that is to be venerated. This is a stand that resonates with a sound line of scientific thinking. It has ecological values at its core and is one of important teachings of the Vedas.
Any disturbance to the Earth for the sake of humanity needs to be kept at minimum and the humans apologise to Mother Earth. In fact, every Hindu who grows up traditionally is taught to say the following shloka before putting her feet on the ground after waking up:
विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे ॥
Samudra Vasane Devi Parvata Sthana Mandale
Vishnu Patni Namas Tubhyam Paada Sparsham Kshamasvme
She who wears the ocean as her garments and for whom the mountains form the bosom, that consort of the all-pervading universal Divine (Vishnu), please forgive and bear with me for stepping on you.
The Bhumi Sukta of Atharva Veda is perhaps the earliest ecological declaration of humanity.
Salutations to Mother Earth in whom woven together oceans and flowing waters; in Her contained is food which She manifests when ploughed, in Her indeed is alive all lives; may She bestow us with that Life.
Mother Earth What, I dig out of your body, may grow again quickly. May I Never injure your vitals or your heart.
Even though the awareness of the sacred connected aspect of nature - the web of life - have been felt by all natural religionists throughout the world, the Hindus have, and hence India has, the privilege of first putting into words the awareness of our species' indebtedness to nature.
Source – excerpts from an article in swarajyamag.com