RCE Srinagar recently participated in Prayagraj Kumbh 2019, an event held between 15 January, 2019 to 4 March, 2019. Kumbh, (the festival of the Sacred Pitcher as it is known in Sanskrit language), is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on Earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and Saraswati.

Kumbh provided RCE Srinagar with a good opportunity to promote ESD and demonstrate concepts such as clean and green environments, energy efficient transport and lighting, reducing carbon and other footprints, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. People happily walked over 15-20km to reach to the bathing ghats demonstrating their will and commitment towards low carbon lifestyles, being sustainable, and living in harmony with nature.

Through various programmes as well as personal interactions and observations during Kumbh, the sharing of knowledge, tradition, and culture took place. RCE Srinagar took part in several discussions, and advised participants on how to make their communication effective towards promoting and achieving the SDGs.

RCE Srinagar has formed a group of organisations and individuals who participated in Prayagraj Kumbh 2019 to follow-up the agenda taken up post-Kumbh, which includes providing guidance for the planning and execution of various activities towards promoting ESD and achieving SDGs in India.

Kumbh has helped to create awareness and educate people by showcasing demonstrations on SDGs, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and environment protection using both traditional wisdom coupled with modern science and technology.

(Photo credit: RCE Srinagar)