Haridwar: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) will organize 8th edition of the “Ganga Utsava 2024” to mark the anniversary of the declaration of the river Ganga as the National River on November 4 at Chandi Ghat in Haridwar.
The NMCG celebrates this festival to promote the conservation of the Ganga River, highlight its cultural and spiritual significance, and raise public awareness about cleanliness.
Celebration of Ganga Utsav on the bank of river
This is for the first time when NMCG celebrates this festival on the bank of the river. The Ganga Utsav 2024 will also be celebrated across the Ganga basin states in 139 Districts by the District Ganga Committees. The states concerned will have one main event on this occasion.
CM Dhami and Union Minister of Jal Shakti department are likely to attend the function
According to a press release, issued by the PIB, the central event of Ganga Utsav is being celebrated with grandeur, led by Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, and Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Mrs. Debashree Mukherjee.
Flagging off ceremony of the Ganga Women Rafting Expedition
The flag-off ceremony for the upcoming Ganga Women Rafting Expedition will be organized in collaboration with BSF on this occasion. It will be a 50-day long expedition. It will conclude at Ganga Sagar traversing through 9 major cities & towns across the Ganga River.
River City Alliance to play a major role in connecting 145 river cities across the country
It will be a model event for the celebration of the river. The function is likely to be attended by several river cities under the aegis of River City Alliance. The alliance has been established comprising 145 river cities across the country. The alliance aims to achieve healthy urban rivers by adopting integrated approach of river sensitive urban planning. It envisages a pollution-free and continuously flowing river. With the help of this festival, the government wants to highlight the cultural and spiritual importance of rivers in our society.
“Ganga Samvad” session
A session titled “Ganga Samvad” is also an important part of this festival. It will feature discussions among prominent figures, religious and spiritual leaders, and key personalities on various topics. This session is expected to inspire youths to connect with river conservation and spread awareness. Experts will discuss significant issues related to river rejuvenation at a technical session.
“Ghat Par Haat” to showcase the aspects of “Namami Gange” initiatives
“Ghat Par Haat” will be another attraction at the centre of the event. Various stalls would be set up by the local departments to showcase the aspects of the Namami Gange initiative. The NMCG also wants to engage children in river conservation, including quizzes, film screenings, magic shows, puppet shows, and drawing and painting competitions through different activities on this occasion.
Cultural journey of rivers through “Nukkad Natak”
“Nukkad Nataks” (Street Plays), which aims at raising awareness about river conservation among the youth, will also be organized. The cultural journey of rivers and the stories associated with them will be highlighted at a dedicated session. An exhibition on Namami Gange, showcasing various facets of this initiative will also be held.
