The Ganga Utsav 2020 - The River Festival was celebrated virtually, drawing a broad audience and overcoming the limitations posed by COVID-19. Organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the festival was dedicated to honoring the river Ganga's cultural, historical, and ecological significance and underscoring the collective responsibility for river conservation.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, recalling how the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for Aviral and Nirmal Ganga has become a mass movement at the Ganga Utsav 2020 said, “Ganga rejuvenation is a continuous task that’s why we have to promote public participation, we have to create a sense of duty among people, it can be done only when we are able to make people realize what Ganga offers us.” He emphasized that festivals like Ganga Utsav are very important to encourage public participation. He said that Ganga rejuvenation is not only government work but involves constant public engagement and dialogue. He said, “This program is an enabler in transforming our ‘Astha’ (faith) to our ‘Kartavya’(duty) towards Ganga.”
Key Highlights of Ganga Utsav 2020
1. Cultural Performances and Storytelling
2. Engaging Youth through Ganga Quest
- The Mini Ganga Quest, a collaborative quiz with Tree Craze Foundation, saw participation from over 4,000 students. Led by Bhawna Sharma, the foundation organized this activity to instill awareness about river conservation among young participants.
3. Global Support and International Greetings
- Ambassadors from several countries showed their support. Notable guests included Shin Bongkil (South Korea), Walter J. Lindner (Germany), and Marten van den Berg (Netherlands), each highlighting Ganga's global significance. Lindner praised NMCG's initiatives, while van den Berg expressed the Netherlands' commitment to supporting India in river rejuvenation efforts.
4. Film Festival for Environmental Awareness
- Films like The Miracle Water Village by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, Thirst by Sivanageswara Rao, and Water Warriors by Nutan Manmohan illustrated community-led conservation efforts. Through powerful visual storytelling, the Ganga Film Festival inspired viewers to think critically about water management and environmental resilience.
5. Ganga Dialogues
- As part of the Ganga Dialogues series, author Rajiv Malhotra joined Vaishnava scholar Shri Satyanarayana Dasa for a thought-provoking conversation on Ganga's sacred essence, drawn from their book Sanskrit Non-Translatables. The dialogue underscored the importance of recognizing Ganga as a "living entity" to foster reverence and prevent ecological neglect.
6. Art and Murals along the Ganga
- Artist Meenakshi Payal presented the Art and Murals project, undertaken with Mozarto and supported by Union Bank of India, which adorned ghats in Haridwar and Varanasi with large murals depicting Ganga’s legacy. This initiative was part of the Namami Gange project, enhancing the visual and cultural appeal of iconic ghats.
7. Gastronomic Exploration of Ganga's Heritage
- Anubhav Sapra of Delhi Food Walks led the audience through a virtual exploration of traditional foods along the riverbanks. The session, "Zayaka Ganga Kinare Wala," introduced viewers to iconic dishes and century-old eateries in cities like Kolkata, Prayagraj, and Patna, preserving Ganga's culinary heritage.
8. Community Activities Nationwide
- Alongside the main event, district-level celebrations took place with tree plantation drives, river clean-ups, and educational tours organized by the Ganga Task Force. Ganga Praharis, NYK Ganga Doots, and NCC cadets participated in various activities, reinforcing community engagement and responsibility for river conservation.
The virtual Ganga Utsav 2020 succeeded in honouring the Ganga and all rivers, uniting diverse voices, cultural expressions, and environmental values. The event underscored India’s commitment to river rejuvenation and sustainability, fostering a collective reverence and responsibility toward the nation's rivers.