SWaCH Waste Pickers Collect 114 Tons of Nirmalya in Pune’s “Nirmalya to Nisarg” Drive During Ganesh Festival

Pune, 7th September 2025: Reinforcing their two-decade-long commitment to the city, waste pickers from SWaCH Pune Seva Sahakari Sanstha collected and sorted 114 tons of Nirmalya (ritual offerings) during Pune’s Ganesh festival this year as part of the “Nirmalya to Nisarg” (Offerings to Nature) initiative. Additionally, 39 tons of dry waste such as plastic bags, decorations, and sweet boxes were collected separately.

The initiative was carried out at over 50 immersion sites and centers across the city, with more than 400 waste pickers on duty. On September 2 (Gauri Visarjan) and September 6 (Anant Chaturdashi), they worked late into the night collecting flowers, garlands, coconuts, and sacred grass (durva) offered to Ganesh idols. The collected organic material was handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for composting.

Launched in 2009 at a handful of ghats, “Nirmalya to Nisarg” has now become a defining part of Pune’s Ganeshotsav. Over the past 15 years, the initiative has symbolized the city’s blend of tradition and sustainability, connecting devotion with environmental conservation.

This year, P. N. Gadgil & Sons extended special support to the waste pickers. Citizens, Ganesh mandal volunteers, and even former corporators praised and honored the waste pickers at immersion sites, often including them in aarti rituals alongside devotees.

Livelihood Concerns Amid Service to City
Despite uncertainty over their livelihoods due to the PMC’s proposed mechanized door-to-door waste collection system, which could disrupt the SWaCH cooperative model, waste pickers continued their work with dedication. Their contribution was seen as especially significant this year, as the community fears being sidelined from the formal system.

“We celebrate the Ganpati festival together with the citizens. Even though our future is uncertain, we were present at the immersion centers for the city,” said Sarika Karadkar, Board Member of SWaCH. “During the festival, people include us in the aarti and give us prasad. The tradition of preserving Pune’s inclusive culture has been strengthened by this initiative.”

An Eco-Friendly Ganeshotsav
By diverting ritual offerings away from rivers and ensuring composting, the drive helped reduce water pollution and reinforced the spirit of community participation. The initiative not only managed waste responsibly but also highlighted the bond of trust between citizens and waste pickers in making Pune’s biggest festival more eco-friendly.