Speaking at the confluence, ‘Manthan – Mahakumbh & Beyond,’ organised by Organiser and Panchjanya to celebrate the success of the recently concluded Mahakumbh, Gopal Arya Ji, National Convener of Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), shared insights into how their environmental initiatives achieved massive success without any financial investment in this Maha Kumbh.
He emphasised the remarkable impact of PSG’s efforts in making the Mahakumbh a ‘Harit Kumbh’ (Green Kumbh), through simple yet powerful initiatives such as ‘Ek Thaila, Ek Thali.’ According to him, the idea behind this initiative was to make the Mahakumbh a ‘Jan-Jan ka Kumbh’—a spiritual experience for every household, including those who could not physically attend the event in Prayagraj.
Gopal Ji recounted how the ‘Ek Thaila, Ek Thali’ campaign became a movement that deeply resonated with people across Bharat. He shared emotional stories of elderly individuals and women who, despite being unable to travel to Prayagraj, actively contributed to the initiative, reinforcing their devotion to the grand spiritual gathering.
The campaign’s reach was unprecedented, with over 14.17 lakh thalis and 13.5 lakh thaile collected through extensive door-to-door campaigns conducted by PSG volunteers across the country. These thalis and thaile were then distributed to Akharas and sadhus, ensuring that the event remained as eco-friendly as possible.
Additionally, the acharyas who received the thalis pledged to continue promoting the idea of plastic-free religious gatherings in future events.
The impact of the initiative was immense, as it prevented 29,000 tonnes of plastic waste from being generated. Furthermore, 20,000 thalis were provided to policemen stationed at the Kumbh, while 15,000 thalis were distributed among sanitation workers in recognition of their service. Reflecting on the success of the campaign, Gopal Arya stated, “If the intent is right, we can achieve any goal. Nearly 2,500 organisations got associated with this initiative, making it a grand success.”
The event also featured insights from Dr. Praveen Kumar Reddy, Chief Medical Officer, Netra Kumbh 2025, who discussed the inspiring journey of the Netra Kumbh, a medical camp dedicated to eye care, which was organised on the sidelines of the Mahakumbh. He highlighted that the Netra Kumbh Mahayojan was executed as a zero-budget initiative, following the successful models of 2019 and 2021. He emphasised that renunciation and service are the twin ideals of this organisation, and that many people in India lack access to proper healthcare due to financial constraints and logistical challenges. However, the 2025 Netra Kumbh successfully addressed these issues, ensuring free eye care services for thousands.
The initiative made a significant impact, with 1.5 lakh spectacles distributed free of cost. In addition, 2.5 lakh individuals were screened, and spectacles were provided to them in real-time. Of these, 7,800 advanced eye screenings were conducted, and 6,500 customised spectacles were made with precision. Dr. Reddy noted that 80 per cent of eyesight issues can be solved digitally, and hence, the Netra Kumbh focused on creating partnerships with 53 organisations to improve accessibility to eye care.
Logistically, organising the Netra Kumbh at such a massive scale posed several challenges. To overcome them, an 8.5-acre land was allocated for the Netra Kumbh facility, and a fully operational Netra Kendra (Eye Care Center) was established. A total of 450 doctors volunteered their time and expertise to ensure smooth execution of the program. Despite initial concerns about its feasibility, the initiative turned out to be a major success, setting a precedent for future healthcare efforts at large religious gatherings.
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