Haridwar (Uttarakhand) [India], November 4 (ANI): As Haridwar is set to celebrate the eighth edition of Ganga Utsav on Monday, preparations for the event are carried out in full swing at the Chandi Ghat in the spiritual city. 
The Ganga Utsav is organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on November 4, aiming to promote the conservation of the River Ganga, highlight its cultural and spiritual significance and raise awareness among the public towards cleanliness.
This year’s Ganga Utsav is being celebrated with great pomp and will be inaugurated by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil. Several distinguished guests will be present at the opening ceremony of the festival.
The special feature of this event includes the Women’s River Rafting Campaign in which a group of 20 women will start the campaign from Devprayag to reach Ganga Sagar in 50 days and raise awareness about the importance of the Ganga River.
Speaking to ANI, Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, “The main feature of this year’s event is the Women’s River Rafting Campaign, which is organized in collaboration with BSF. This group of 20 women will start their campaign from Devprayag to reach Ganga Sagar in 50 days. So, this is a new initiative in which a women’s contingent will spread awareness about the pure and incessant Ganga.” 
Explaining other features of the event, Mital highlighted NMCG’s efforts to revive a fish species ‘Mahseer’ in the river again. Apart from it, NMCG will also launch some products and knowledge portals on River Ganga.
“There was a time when ‘Mahseer’ species of fish were found in the rivers of Uttarakhand, but with time, their population severely decreased. So, now, when the condition of the rivers is getting better in Uttarakhand, with the position of the Ganga river getting good, so, we have decided to release some Mahseer fishes in the Ganga river in the event. After that, we have cultural programmes, in which the main event is ‘Rag-Rag Mein Ganga’. NMCG has made some products and knowledge portals on River Ganga, that will be launched at the event. In a row, some ministers will address the event,” Mital told ANI.
Several cultural programmes will also be held in the event, including a performance by actor Ashutosh Rana, he added.
Director General NMCG said, “We have a performance by actor Ashutosh Rana… After that, Ganga Aarti will be performed and a sound and light will be showcased, based on the story of Haridwar. Cultural events depicting several cultures of Uttarakhand will be showcased. We have various stalls for children and a lot of things are there… A special VR tunnel depicting Ganga… We have one special initiative on River City Alliances, that will also be showcased in the event so that people get knowledge on it. We have an aim that all river cities work together.”
Highlighting the major objectives of Ganga Utsav 2024, Mital said that this event is being organized to raise awareness about the cultural, spiritual and ecological importance of the Ganga River among the society, especially in youth generations.
Mital said, “Ganga Utsav is celebrated on the day on which River Ganga was declared as the National River. This will be the eighth edition of the event, as we have celebrated Ganga Utsav seven times. This time we have decided to celebrate it on the Chandi Ghat. The main objective of this celebration is to raise awareness among youths and society about the importance of the Ganga River, whether cultural, spiritual or ecological, as rivers have always been an important part of Indian culture. With the increasing pollution, the importance of rivers is decreasing, especially among the younger generation, so, to give a message to the younger generation, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organising this festival.”
He further highlighted that the Ganga Utsav 2024 also meant acknowledging the efforts of all unknown people who have been working for the cleanliness of rivers and the conservation of river animals for years.
“There are several unknown people who are continuously working for the cleanliness and conservation of animals in the rivers, so, this event is also an acknowledgement of their efforts,” he added.
Ganga Utsav 2024 marks a milestone, as it will be the first time that this event will take place on the riverbank itself, commemorating the anniversary of the Ganga River’s designation as India’s ‘National River’.
The event is also expected to deepen the appreciation of the river’s heritage and role in Indian civilization.
The celebration will span across 139 districts within the Ganga basin, coordinated by District Ganga Committees, with each state hosting a primary event.
Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, will inaugurate the central event in Haridwar, joined by prominent guests including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, and Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Debashree Mukherjee. (ANI)
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