Prayagraj: A strong message of environmental responsibility marked the Earth Day celebrations in the city on Wednesday.Environmentalists, social workers and citizens gathered at Parmarth Niketan Ashram and pledged to conserve water through collective action. The programme was organised by Mangal Bhoomi Foundation, where participants symbolically performed ‘Jalabhishek’ by digging pits on the ashram premises to promote water conservation.Leading the initiative, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, head of the ashram, emphasised that Earth Day should not remain symbolic but be celebrated like a “birthday of the planet” with real action. He underlined the importance of saving every drop of water, stating that “if there is water, there is future.” Referring to the massive turnout during the Kumbh in Prayagraj, he said the presence of rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna is what draws millions, highlighting their unmatched significance. He urged people to take a pledge that devotion and pollution cannot go together and called for planting trees along riverbanks as part of “Dharabhishek”.Renowned environmentalist and a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Anil Prakash Joshi, stressed that both water and trees are essential for life. “Water came before trees, so along with planting trees, we must also ‘plant water’ by conserving it,” he said, explaining that rainwater harvesting through small pits can revive natural water sources and ecosystems.Programme coordinator Ram Babu Tiwari said the campaign launched from Prayagraj would be expanded nationwide. He appealed for community participation in digging pits to conserve rainwater, calling it a simple yet effective solution to the growing water crisis.Other speakers echoed similar concerns. Sanjay Swami urged people not to pollute rivers in the first place, while Ashok Mehta highlighted that rivers can only remain clean through public participation, not just laws. Experts including Kapil Dev Mishra and Rajararm Yadav stressed sustainable development and responsible use of resources.The event concluded with a collective resolve to turn water conservation into a mass movement, reinforcing the idea that protecting water means securing life for future generations.
