Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has introduced a special Aarti collection booklet during Ganeshotsav to spread awareness about cleanliness, waste segregation and environmental conservation among citizens. 

During the Ganesh festival, which began on September 14, devotees gather at homes and public mandaps to recite Aartis of Lord Ganesha and other deities. However, many citizens, especially youngsters, are not familiar with all the Aartis.

To make collective prayers easier, the NMMC’s Solid Waste Management Department has distributed foldable Aarti booklets at various locations across the city.

The booklet features Aartis on one side and cleanliness-related messages with attractive illustrations on the other. Its compact design makes it convenient for citizens to carry, while the unique concept has received appreciation from Navi Mumbai residents.

The collection includes Aartis of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Vitthal, Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram, along with the prayer ‘Ghalin Lotangan’. The reverse side highlights important environmental messages, including segregation of wet, dry, domestic hazardous and sanitary waste into four categories.

The booklet also promotes the use of clay idols instead of plaster of Paris during Ganeshotsav, replacing plastic bags with cloth bags and converting nirmalya (floral offerings) into compost.

Through this initiative, NMMC aims to spread awareness about cleanliness, waste management, eco-friendly practices and plastic-free living among citizens. The booklets have been distributed across municipal areas and have also reached households through school students. The initiative has also been widely promoted on social media platforms.