On August 21st, Nashik made history today as over 16,000 students across 113 schools simultaneously created 16,000 eco-friendly Ganesh idols in what became India's largest environmental education initiative. The Eco Bappa 2025 event, organized jointly by The Godavari Initiative (TGI) and Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) under the "Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan," successfully demonstrated how cultural celebration and environmental consciousness can unite on an unprecedented scale.

The three-hour citywide workshop, conducted from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, engaged students in creating Ganesh idols using traditional shadu maati (natural clay) completely eliminating harmful Plaster of Paris materials. The initiative involved --- volunteers who facilitated workshops across multiple venues.

"Today's achievement showcases what's possible when local government and dedicated organizations work hand-in-hand," stated TGI representative . "Under the Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan, we envisioned making Nashik a model for sustainable  celebrations."

The Godavari Initiative emphasized the collaborative success, noting that the event exemplifies their commitment to creating scalable, community-driven solutions for sustainable development while preserving Maharashtra's cherished Ganesh Utsav traditions.

The event has been documented by the India Book of Records for the "Largest Simultaneous Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idol-Making Workshop" category. A professional adjudicator monitored activities across venues to ensure accurate verification.

The initiative's core message, "आपल्या हातांनी, आपला बाप्पा. शाडूमाती पासून, मना पासून" (Our Bappa, with our own hands. From sacred clay, from the heart), resonated strongly with participants across age groups.

The successful execution involved months of planning, coordination between educational institutions, and training of volunteers who facilitated the workshops. The initiative is expected to influence sustainable festival celebrations across Maharashtra and beyond.