Art of Living Leads Awareness and Cleanliness Campaign for Adi Ganga – A Symbol of Kolkata’s Heritage
Kolkata, June 6 : On World Environment Day, carrying forward Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of reviving and protecting India’s rivers through collective action, The Art of Living, in association with the Namami Gange initiative , Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the State Mission for Clean Ganga, West Bengal , organised a large-scale awareness and cleaning campaign along the banks of Adi Ganga at Sadar Ghat near Kalighat Temple.
The initiative drew hundreds of The Art of Living volunteers, youth, local residents, and members of the civil society in a collective effort to raise awareness and clean the Adi Ganga, the historic and original channel of the Hooghly River. The event highlighted the ecological, cultural, and historical importance of the Adi Ganga, and the urgent need to revive it.
The global humanitarian and spiritual master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, says,
“Rivers have been the lifeline of all civilizations. People should be encouraged to treat the planet as sacred, to treat trees and rivers as sacred, to treat people as sacred, and to see God in nature and in people.”
The awareness campaign was flagged off by the Guest of Honour, Smt. Smita Pandey, Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, who called for greater public participation in protecting rivers and preserving the environment.
As part of the programme, participants undertook a cleanliness drive along the riverbank and interacted with local communities to spread awareness on responsible waste disposal, pollution prevention and the need for sustained citizen action to revive and protect water bodies.
A public pledge for river conservation was also administered, encouraging individuals to adopt environmentally responsible practices and contribute towards keeping rivers and public spaces clean.
“Spirituality and cleanliness go hand in hand,” shared Shri Sandeep Nowlakha, Trustee, The Art of Living, “The sacred Adi Ganga of Kolkata is not just a river – she’s our heritage, our prayers, our past. We need to keep it clean for future generations. We feel encouraged by the turnout today. It shows more and more people are willing to be a part of this sacred activity.”
The initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between environmental stewardship and cultural heritage, while creating greater awareness about the challenges facing Adi Ganga and the role citizens can play in its restoration.
The campaign will continue till June 7 with daily cleanliness and awareness activities. Evening Bhajan, Jamming Sessions are scheduled at the ghat over the next two days, culminating in an Adi Ganga Puja and Aarti on the concluding day.
The event attracted enthusiastic participation and is expected to further build momentum for community-led efforts towards the conservation and rejuvenation of Adi Ganga.