Pune Ganeshotsav 2026: Pune Art Activist Conducts Eco-Friendly Ganesha Workshops for Over 200 Children
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 15th September 2026: With the message of sustainable celebrations gaining momentum during Ganeshotsav, designer-turned-art activist Priyanka Patil, founder of Studio Aesthete, conducted a three-day series of eco-friendly Ganesha-making workshops across Pune, engaging more than 200 children.
The workshops were conducted from September 11 to 13 and focused on encouraging children to make Ganesha idols using sustainable clay while understanding the importance of environmentally responsible celebrations.
The open-to-all initiative was conducted across several residential communities and organisations, including Magarpatta, One North, Yoo Pune and Marvel Diva societies, along with the Magarpatta Environment Club and Revati Dnyaan Foundation.
A key aspect of the initiative was its focus on inclusivity. Patil conducted dedicated sessions for underprivileged children and specially-abled students, including visually impaired, physically challenged and mentally challenged children. A special workshop was also held at Asha School, Southern Command, for specially-abled children of Army personnel.
Speaking about the initiative, Patil said, “The idea behind these workshops is not just to teach children how to make an eco-friendly Ganesha, but to help them understand that our celebrations can be sustainable and inclusive. I especially wanted to reach children from disadvantaged and specially-abled communities and give them a skill they can potentially use to earn in the future. Through art, we can create both environmental awareness and opportunities.”
The initiative also featured a CSR-backed children’s activity session for Kisna, organised in collaboration with the Magarpatta Environment Club at Retired Major General Neville’s Garden.
Patil, a designer by profession who later moved into art activism, has worked with organisations including Google and Godrej in Pune. Her eco-friendly Ganesha-making workshops have now become an annual initiative combining art, environmental awareness and community participation.
The programme aims to promote eco-friendly Ganeshotsav celebrations while providing children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with hands-on training in an artisanal skill that could potentially become a source of income.
Through these workshops, Patil hopes to encourage a shift towards sustainable festivities while ensuring that children from different sections of society get an opportunity to participate in the celebrations.
The initiative highlights how traditional festival activities can become platforms for environmental education, skill development and social inclusion.
