Salman Khan Advocates for Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi at Divyaj Foundation Event
In a star-studded event promoting eco-friendly celebrations, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan took center stage to champion a more sustainable approach to Ganesh Chaturthi. Hosted by the Divyaj Foundation, the event aimed to raise awareness about environmentally conscious practices during the festival, and it featured a host of notable personalities from various fields.
Salman Khan, a longstanding advocate for environmental issues, spoke passionately about the importance of maintaining purity in festival celebrations. "Eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi has been part of our traditions for the longest time," Khan asserted. He emphasized that despite this longstanding practice, some senior citizens remain skeptical about its benefits. "They should believe in it," he urged.
Khan highlighted a significant issue with traditional celebrations that involve non-biodegradable materials. "If there is no purity in a festival and belief, you cannot truly enjoy it," he stated. He underscored the importance of using natural materials for Ganesh idols, explaining that "you just cannot put together a Ganpati with fake stuff." According to Khan, this approach ensures that the idols dissolve naturally during the Visarjan (immersion) process, thereby preventing environmental harm.
The actor was particularly critical of the pollution caused by traditional celebrations. He described a troubling scenario where Ganesh idols disintegrate improperly, leading to the dismemberment of the idols and the spread of plastic waste. "It should not happen that after Visarjan, Ganesh ji's head is floating somewhere, his legs are floating somewhere else, and you end up stepping on someone else’s Ganesh on your way to Visarjan. This is ridiculous," Khan remarked. His message was clear: "People spreading plastic garbage, that is not okay."
The event was graced by a number of celebrities who lent their support to the cause. Among the attendees were Alvira Agnihotri, Atul Agnihotri, Amruta Fadnavis, Sana Sultan Khan, and more.
