Today, the National Mission for Clean Ganga in New Delhi organized the 7th edition of the Ganga Utsav, which was officially opened by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, in front of Special Secretary and Director General, NMCG, Shri G. Asok Kumar. The 33rd edition of Namami Gange Magazine, the new Chacha Chaudhary series, and the Voyage of Ganga Booklet—which was based on Ganga Pustak Parikrama and released in association with NBT—were also released during the occasion.
The second edition of Ganga Pustak Parikrama was also flagged off via Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, and Mr. G. Asok Kumar. Ganga Pustak Parikrama will start its 3-month long adventure from Gangotri on 7 November 2023 and pass thru all cities and cities at the banks of River Ganga – Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Bijnor, Meerut, Aligarh, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Chhapra, Patna, Begusarai, Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, Sahibganj, Baharampur, Kolkata, and Haldia – before finishing its adventure at Gangasagar on 11 January 2024.
Addressing the collection, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee expressed that the Ganga is not merely a river but a profound emotion that resonates with anyone. She expressed her satisfaction in witnessing the wonderful development in the Ganga Rejuvenation efforts, specially in collaboration with the new generation. She drew interest to the lovely connection among Ghalib and the Yamuna, emphasizing the deeply rooted cultural significance of our rivers. She stressed that the maintenance of rivers is a shared duty of all of us.
She reiterated that the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi always emphasizes that ‘Water is Everyone’s Business’ and has underscored the pivotal role of water inside the sustainable improvement of our kingdom. In this context, she highlighted the pressing need to cope with the difficulty of solid waste contaminating our water bodies. Each one of us, she insisted, need to breakthrough and contribute to safeguarding our rivers. She underscored the urgency of tackling the go with the flow of sewage into water bodies and advocated for more suitable strong waste control, mainly emphasizing plastic waste manage.
Water conservation turned into some other focal factor of her cope with, as she highlighted its vital function inside the rejuvenation of rivers. She referred to as for collective motion and collaboration, pointing out that water conservation and river rejuvenation are fundamental obligations that all of us percentage. She emphasized the pivotal function of the Jan Andolan (human beings’s motion) within the noble purpose of river rejuvenation.
Special Secretary and Director General, NMCG prolonged a heat welcome to the attendees and emphasised the profound importance of the Ganga in India. Shri Kumar informed that Ganga become declared as the National River of India in 2008, which led to the status quo of the National Ganga Day. He in addition elaborated on how every 12 months, this auspicious day unites a diverse spectrum of stakeholders, which includes children, in joyous celebrations and activities. Shri Kumar underscored the significance of Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, where “Catch the Rain” marketing campaign changed into launched with the aid of the Hon. Prime Minister for the duration of which he addressed Sarpanchs from all corners of the nation, emphasizing the essential role the Ganga performs in our shared background.
Shri Kumar highlighted the terrific reputation via the United Nations to Namami Gange as one of the pinnacle 10 World Restoration Flagships dedicated to the rejuvenation of the herbal international at some stage in the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on 14th December 2022. Shri Kumar expressed that this accolade is a source of mammoth pride for our nation and the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
He knowledgeable that Ganga Utsav 2023 became additionally celebrated by using numerous District Ganga Committees across the Ganga Basin. In latest years, Namami Gange has encouraged for the decentralization of Ganga-associated sports with District Ganga Committees accomplishing normal meetings marking a great fulfillment. He mentioned that these conferences are instrumental in fostering a deep reference to the people, paving the manner for high-quality steps in human beings’s participation thru Ganga Praharis, District Project Officers, Ganga Doots etc.
He referred to that International Yoga Day witnessed the participation of as a minimum 5 lakh people, demonstrating resounding help for the Namami Gange Mission. “Our efforts have evolved from the engineering-oriented mission, which centered on the development of sewage treatment flora to Arth Ganga model, emphasizing community involvement, academic sports, and livelihood era for nearby human beings”, he said. This paradigmatic shift marks a shift from a exceedingly engineering-oriented program to one which prioritizes the connection of the river with the human beings with employment technology possibilities.
He noted that the populace of Ganges River Dolphins has shown a brilliant boom in Ganga and its tributaries. NMCG has also forged sturdy partnerships with worldwide companies, a collaborative attempt to convert NMCG right into a vibrant atmosphere for the Ganga River. Highlighting the vital role performed by using a group of committed women volunteers alongside the riverbanks, he mentioned how they had been instrumental in spreading the message of a smooth Ganga. Shri Kumar drew attention to the Dilli Haat-Jalaj mission, which showcases merchandise crafted through these women dwelling in the Ganga Basin, contributing to economic sustainability. Shri Kumar emphasized that NMCG stays steadfast in its commitment to focusing more often than not on the tributaries of the Ganga, with a specific emphasis on the Hindon, Kaali Nadi, and Yamuna. He highlighted the current enlargement of the member-towns inside the novel initiative River-Cities Alliance.
Ganga Utsav 2023 commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and Namami Gange Anthem. The occasion witnessed Flute Recital by acclaimed artist Pt. Ajay Prasanna which enthralled the target market. The audience was captivated by means of a series of performances, which includes the enchanting “Yamuna Song” offered through the Bhartandey Group, a traditional Folk Dance from Uttar Pradesh executed through Raag Nritya Kala Manch dance, and a captivating new rendition of the “Namami Gange” music by Mr. Jeet Paramanik. As a part of the celebration, a various range of sports have been organized to foster a deeper connection among human beings and rivers, in addition to to elevate consciousness approximately river rejuvenation. Ganga Utsav 2023 became a colourful fusion of music, dance, understanding, subculture, and talk. Ganga Utsav 2023 concluded with a fascinating performance of fusion track by Pandit Siddharta Banerjee.
