GIWA’s growing Swachhta Kranti (Clean Revolution) took to the streets and jungles of the Kanwar Yatra to motivate and activate the masses for sanitation. Over 1.5 million people attended this huge journey through Haridwar, Rishikesh and Rajaji National Park in order to pay homage to God through the offerings of waters from their home areas and the Ganga.
Here, GIWA volunteers are boarding the WASH on Wheels vehicles to provide regular puppet and street theatre shows that are raising awareness on keeping our sacred pilgrimage sites, our villages and our communities free from open defecation and pollution.
Since the beginning of the mela til date more than 18 shows have been performed all across the Kanwad Yatra route. Some of the locations include Hari Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Rishikesh Railway Station, Chaurasi Kutiya Neelkanth Marg, Bairaj Road, IDPL Parking and many, many others. The young and passionate artists have joined the Parmarth Family to offer their talent and their time, finding new locations everyday and reaching out to make the largest impact with this vital message, are continuing their performances daily til the end of the mela.
A huge number of Kanwar Yatris gather eagerly and enthusiastically to watch the shows and also pledge at the end of each show with their hands raised high, sometimes even hoisting Swachta Kranti flags, to show their commitment and support of a Swachh Bharat, one that is free from open defecation and pollution.
Through the shows basic facts of cleanliness, such as the harms of defecating in the open, the benefits of using a toilet as well as handwashing with soap, amongst other basic hygienic practices, are shared.
With God’s grace and the blessings of GIWA Co-Founder, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, the Swachhta Kranti has truly become a great success and a great hit in countless hearts and minds!
