Chiranjeevi Unveils Green India Challenge Seed Ganesha Idols in Hyderabad

Megastar Chiranjeevi has urged citizens to celebrate the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival with eco-friendly 'Seed Ganesha' idols, unveiling the Green India Challenge initiative at his residence in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The unveiling took place in the presence of Green India Challenge (GIC) founder and former Member of Parliament J Santosh Kumar. The initiative encourages devotees to use clay idols embedded with plant seeds that sprout into saplings after being immersed at home, blending devotional practices with environmental conservation.

Speaking at the event, Chiranjeevi emphasized the need to protect nature and local water resources during the festival. He noted that choosing clay idols embedded with seeds allows households to grow saplings directly in their courtyards following immersion, ensuring a lasting green footprint.

Addressing the environmental hazards linked to festive rituals, Chiranjeevi expressed concern over the widespread use of Plaster of Paris idols, which cause severe water pollution. He urged devotees to conduct the immersion of Seed Ganesha idols at home after performing their puja rituals, noting that worshipping Vinayaka and planting trees can be fulfilled together while protecting nature.

Chiranjeevi described the Green India Challenge as a 'Yagna' and praised the initiative for motivating lakhs of citizens to plant millions of saplings across the country. Pledging his full support to the mission, the actor commended Santosh Kumar for his ongoing efforts to advocate for green practices.

The Green India Challenge was launched in 2018, inspired by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's brainchild initiative Haritha Haram. The drive operates under a structured model of encouraging individuals to plant three saplings, nurture them for three years, and nominate three other people to continue the chain.

According to Santosh Kumar, a total of 19.60 crore saplings have been planted under the Green India Challenge across the country to date. The former MP appealed directly to citizens, residential housing societies, and temple committees across the region to embrace Seed Ganesha idols and help transform the festival into a wider environmental movement.