The campaign
PUNARAVARTAN is a campaign to reintroduce circularity to Indian rituals and festivals and make them completely zero waste. It promotes the reuse and recycling of sacred offerings after immersions so that they are not treated as waste.
Punaravartan 2026 is now Open
Whether you want to give clay, take clay for reuse, help collect it, or support the campaign as a volunteer, there’s a place for you in the Punaravartan 2026 movement.
Voices for Punaravartan
Hear from inspiring personalities who are lending their voices to a more sustainable and circular Ganeshotsav.
Punaravartan 2026 Across Cities
Find your city, connect with the local campaign team and join the movement.
Our Journey Towards Zero-Waste Celebrations
Over the last six years, 180 tons of clay have been collected.
76.1 tons
57 tons
23 tons
24 tons
From Immersion to Creation
The journey of clay doesn’t end when the idol is immersed. Recovered clay can return to the hands of artisans and become part of the next celebration.
What does Punaravartan mean?
The Problem
Natural clay – known as Shaadu Maati – is a non renewable resource that is mined from different parts of India and sent to cities to be converted into religious idols. After the ban on the use of PoP, the traditional use of natural clay is expected to increase. This will create another ecological disaster and therefore needs to be addressed. Also, when clay idols are immersed into natural water bodies they form an impermeable layer on the river bed.
Currently the clay sludge collected after immersion is either thrown into open mines around the city or some of it gets poured back into the river.
The Solution
Natural clay can be easily reused and recycled by artisans to remake fresh Ganesh idols. To enable this the clay sludge has to be collected in a clean manner stored carefully and returned to the sculptors.
The CPCB guidelines for Eco friendly Ganesh Celebrations , 2020, recommend the recycling of clay sludge.
Events & Activities
Explore highlights from Punaravartan events and community initiatives across participating cities.
Research & Insights
Evidence, insights and learnings that guide Punaravartan’s journey towards zero-waste celebrations.
Do we need a separate category for Religious Waste?
Sruthi Darbhamulla and Manisha Sheth Festivals are joyous large-scale public events. Ganeshotsav means dhol tasha, […]
Testimonials from the Punaravartan Community
Their experiences show how a simple act can become part of a much bigger change.
From Local Action to Global Impact
Punaravartan connects community-led action in India with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for a more sustainable future.
