To Be Inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Navi Mumbai, September 2026 : To spread the message of an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav among people on a wider scale, the Department of Environment and Climate Change is organising the ‘Eco-Friendly Maha Ganesh Idol Workshop 2026’ in Navi Mumbai. Around 6,000 to 7,000 school students and citizens will simultaneously make eco-friendly Ganesh idols, making it the first initiative of its kind in the state, Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde said.
The workshop will be held on September 10, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will inaugurate the workshop.
Ganeshotsav is one of Maharashtra’s major festivals. Worshipping Lord Ganesha is traditionally regarded as a form of worshipping nature itself. There is also a tradition of offering leaves of various trees during Ganesh worship. In the past, eco-friendly idols made of red or Shadu clay were commonly used. However, over time, the use of plaster of Paris idols and chemical colours has increased, resulting in water pollution after immersion. Heavy metals such as lead and aluminium entering water bodies also pose a threat to aquatic life. Against this backdrop, continuous public awareness campaigns are being conducted to promote an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed through his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme to celebrate Ganeshotsav in an environment-friendly manner. Taking this campaign forward, the workshop has been organised to bring thousands of students and citizens together at one venue to make eco-friendly Ganesh idols.
Minister Pankaja Munde expressed confidence that school students would help spread the message of using eco-friendly idols among the wider public on a large scale.
Participants will create eco-friendly Ganesh idols under the guidance of professional sculptors. The Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have been conducting extensive awareness campaigns for nearly two decades to encourage people to celebrate all festivals and occasions in an environmentally responsible manner. Various competitions and initiatives are also being organised to promote eco-friendly Ganeshotsav.
Around 5,500 to 6,000 students and citizens from schools in Thane, Panvel, Kharghar, Ulwe, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are expected to participate in the workshop. The initiative is also expected to encourage other local self-government bodies and educational institutions across the state to organise similar eco-friendly Ganesh idol-making workshops, Munde said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Thane district Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, MP Naresh Mhaske, MLA Manda Mhatre, MLA Niranjan Davkhare, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Chairman Siddhesh Kadam, Navi Mumbai Mayor Sujata Patil, Deputy Mayor Dashrath Bhagat and other dignitaries are expected to attend the workshop.
