New Delhi: Marking the global Earth Hour movement with a meaningful on-ground initiative, WWF-India, in partnership with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), successfully hosted the Sanjay Van Earth Hour Mahotsav today at Sanjay Van. The event witnessed an enthusiastic footfall of over 450 participants, including 380 attendees and 80 dedicated volunteers, all coming together to “Give an Hour for the Earth.”
Set within the ecologically rich Aravalli landscape, the Mahotsav transformed Sanjay Van into a vibrant hub of environmental learning, creativity, and community engagement. The event featured a diverse lineup of immersive activities, including guided nature walks, a macro photography workshop, butterfly behaviour exploration, wildlife tracking sessions, yoga in nature, stone painting, journaling, and interactive learning experiences.
Officials from DDA were present at the event, including Shri N. Saravana Kumar, IAS – Vice Chairman, DDA, Shri Chittaranjan Dash – Principal Commissioner, DDA, Ms. Amrita Darpan Jain – Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), DDA, Shri Mukesh Kumar – Chief Engineer, DDA, Ms. Neelima Soni – Director (Landscape), DDA, Mr. Surendra Kumar Meena – Director (Horticulture), DDA, Mr. Peush Kumar – Deputy Director (Landscape), DDA.
As a partner to the Mahotsav, DDA shared, “Sanjay Van is one of Delhi’s most valuable natural assets, and it is encouraging to see such strong public participation in celebrating and understanding its ecological and historical significance. The Sanjay Van Earth Hour Mahotsav is a wonderful example of how such spaces can bring communities together in meaningful ways. Rooted in the forest ethos, it encourages people to slow down, observe deeply, and reconnect with nature. Through partnerships like this with WWF-India, we aim to promote awareness, stewardship, and sustainable interaction with urban forests. Today’s turnout reflects a growing collective responsibility towards preserving our environment.”
Participants had the opportunity to engage with experts and naturalists through curated sessions, including a Butterfly Behaviour Walk by Dr. Surya Prakash, a Wildlife Signs & Tracks Walk led by WWF-India naturalist Nikhil John, and a Sanjay Van History Walk conducted by heritage activist Vikramjit Singh Rooprai. Creative workshops like macro photography by Ashir Kumar and nature journaling by wildlife illustrator Richa Kedia further enriched the experience.
A special highlight was WWF-India’s Mobile Raptor Exhibition, which showcased India’s birds of prey and raised awareness about their conservation challenges. The event also featured a dedicated reading corner and interactive sessions such as “Nature Through Games,” fostering environmental awareness among participants of all ages.
The Mahotsav saw active participation from five schools: Guru Harkrishan Public School, SLS DAV Public School, Alpine Convent School, St. Paul’s School (Hauz Khas), and Hamdard Public School, reflecting strong youth engagement in conservation efforts.
Karan Bhalla, COO, WWF-India, said, “This Earth Hour, we want to go beyond the symbolic act of switching off lights and create an opportunity for people to reconnect with nature in a meaningful way. We are grateful to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for being a long-standing partner in enabling such initiatives. The overwhelming response to the Sanjay Van Earth Hour Mahotsav shows that citizens are eager to engage, learn, and contribute towards conservation. Initiatives like these help build a deeper, lasting relationship between people and the natural spaces around them.”
For further details please contact:
Komal Chaudhary- Senior Manager- Media Comms & PR | kchaudhary@wwfindia.net
