Chiranjeevi backs eco-friendly 'Seed Ganesha' idols for upcoming festival

With Ganesh Chaturthi weeks away, actor Chiranjeevi has thrown his weight behind an environmental initiative promoting sustainable celebration. On Sunday, he unveiled the 'Seed Ganesha' idols at his Hyderabad residence, a campaign by the Green India Challenge.

The launch was attended by the initiative's founder and former MP J Santosh Kumar. The idols are crafted from natural clay, cocopeat, and coconut fibre, and contain seeds of native trees such as neem and tamarind. After the puja, devotees can immerse the idol at home, allowing the seeds to germinate.

Chiranjeevi highlighted the environmental damage caused by Plaster of Paris idols, which pollute water bodies during the festival. "When Vinayaka Chavithi arrives, every street turns festive. Intense use of Plaster of Paris idols which caused polluting water resources is a growing big concern," he said. He added that a festival should bring health and blessings to every home.

The actor appealed to citizens to immerse the idol at home and plant trees as part of their devotion. "Worship Vinayaka and fulfill your duty to plant trees, both at once," he urged. He described the Green India Challenge's work as a 'Yagna'.

The Seed Ganesha campaign began in 2020 during the pandemic, distributing around 1.5 lakh idols free each season. It now encourages housing societies and temple committees to adopt the eco-friendly option. Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 begins on September 14.

The Green India Challenge, launched in 2018, promotes tree planting and care. Its model involves planting three saplings, nurturing them for three years, and nominating three more people to do the same. The campaign reports nearly 19.60 crore saplings planted nationwide so far.