Actress Hina Khan has stepped up as a vocal advocate for eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, sharing pictures from her meeting with Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on her Instagram on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The actress used the occasion to urge her followers and fans across India to opt for clay idols over those made with Plaster of Paris (PoP), citing environmental damage to water bodies.

What Hina Khan Said

In a heartfelt caption accompanying the post, the actress wrote: 'Honoured. Thank you for making me a part of this initiative, Hon'ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Jishnu Dev Varma ji. This Ganesh Chaturthi, let's bring Bappa home without harming nature.'

She added that eco-friendly idols are not merely a trend but 'the right way', stressing that eliminating PoP means 'less pollution, less damage to our water bodies, and a little more care for the resources we've been blessed with'. The actress framed sustainability as a civilisational value: 'Sustainability is not a modern idea. It's the civilisational path, the Indian Way. Respect nature. Protect what sustains us. Celebrate without causing harm.'

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma's Initiative

Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been actively championing the cause of eco-friendly Ganpati celebrations ahead of this year's festival. Hina Khan's public endorsement lends celebrity visibility to the effort, potentially amplifying its reach among younger audiences. The Governor's push aligns with long-standing environmental concerns about PoP idols, which do not dissolve in water and release harmful chemicals into lakes, rivers, and ponds during immersion.

Faith, Family and Festivity

Hina Khan, who is married to Rocky Jaiswal, practices both faiths by virtue of her marriage — a detail she has spoken about openly on public platforms. The actress recently appeared on the dance reality show 'India's Best Dancer Season 5', where she recalled her first Karwa Chauth with Rocky. She shared that Rocky holds the belief that the Karwa Chauth fast should not be observed only by women, and that he had kept the fast himself for her well-being during their first celebration together.

Moved by a performance on the show, the 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' actress said: 'Maine bhi abhi kuch samay pehle apna pehla Karwa Chauth manaya apne husband ke saath aur mujhe woh beauty aapke act mein dikhi, where I felt that you both looked like two bodies, one soul.'

Why the Eco-Ganpati Push Matters

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of India's largest festivals, with lakhs of idols immersed across water bodies every year. Environmental surveys by state pollution control boards have consistently flagged spikes in water toxicity during and after immersion seasons, particularly from PoP and synthetic paint residues. The push for eco-friendly idols — made from natural clay, seeds, and biodegradable materials — has gained momentum in Maharashtra and several other states, though adoption remains uneven. Hina Khan's involvement is likely to draw the initiative fresh attention among urban and younger demographics.

With Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 underway, awareness campaigns backed by public figures and state officials are expected to intensify through the ten-day festival period.