Maharashtra Sets Guinness World Record for Making Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idols
More than 10,000 students create Ganesh idols
CM Devendra Fadnavis and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde make idols themselves to spread the message of environmental conservation
Thane, September 2026: The importance of devotion and environmental conservation is greater than the size of a Ganesh idol, and it is the collective responsibility of everyone to celebrate a culturally significant festival like Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
He was speaking at the ‘Eco-Friendly Maha Ganesh Idol Workshop 2026’ organised at the CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre in Vashi. More than 10,000 students simultaneously created eco-friendly Ganesh idols using Shadu clay at the mega workshop, setting a new world record for Maharashtra in the Guinness World Records.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Chairman Siddhesh Kadam, MLA Manda Mhatre, MLA Ravindra Phatak, Environment and Climate Change Department Secretary Jayshree Bhoj, Navi Mumbai Mayor Sujata Patil, Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Kailas Shinde, Thane District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal and Directorate of Art Director Dr Nitin Ingle were among those present.
Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis said Lord Ganesha is regarded as the deity of wisdom and that the environment holds a special place in Indian culture. He said human life can remain secure only when the five elements of nature that constitute creation are protected.
Appealing to people to avoid damage to water bodies caused by large idols, plaster of Paris and artificial colours, Fadnavis said devotion remains the same whether the idol is small or large.
He said God's blessings do not depend on the size of an idol but on the extent to which people selflessly serve the environment and society.
After the Guinness World Records adjudicators announced the result, the Chief Minister said the participating students were the real achievers behind the historic accomplishment and congratulated them. He also praised Environment Minister Pankaja Munde, the Environment Department, J.J. School of Art and the Directorate of Art for their efforts.
Munde congratulated the students and said the thousands who created Ganesh idols from Shadu clay had established themselves as “guardians of the Earth”. She said the core objective of the initiative was to preserve cultural traditions while taking the message of environmental protection to every household.
The entire venue took on a devotional atmosphere amid the auspicious beats of dhol-tasha and guidance from idol makers. The main attraction of the workshop was Fadnavis and Munde themselves taking Shadu clay in their hands and creating Ganesh idols.
The sight of the state's top leadership making idols alongside them further encouraged the students. The initiative conveyed a practical message to society that if students can make eco-friendly idols themselves, every family can also create an environmentally friendly Ganesh idol.
Witnessed by students from schools and colleges, experts from the art field, professors and thousands of devotees, the world-record achievement and the campaign for environmental conservation were celebrated in a grand manner.
