More than 10,000 students created shadu clay Ganesh idols together at the Eco-Friendly Maha Ganesh Idol Workshop 2026 in Navi Mumbai, earning Maharashtra a Guinness World Record. CM Devendra Fadnavis and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde joined the initiative, urging citizens to adopt eco-friendly celebrations and avoid idols and colours that pollute water bodies.

Navi Mumbai: More than 10,000 students created Ganesh idols from shadu clay simultaneously at a workshop in Vashi on Thursday, earning Maharashtra a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest such eco-friendly idol-making initiative.

Students create record-breaking idols

The ‘Eco-Friendly Maha Ganesh Idol Workshop 2026’, organised at the CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre, saw students from schools and colleges come together to make clay idols under the guidance of art experts and idol makers. The initiative was aimed at promoting environmentally responsible celebrations while preserving the cultural traditions associated with Ganeshotsav.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who attended the event, said the grandeur of a Ganesh idol was less important than devotion and environmental conservation. He appealed to citizens to celebrate Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner and avoid practices that damage water bodies.