Juhu beach clean-up: Ajay Devgn joins Amruta Fadnavis, daughter Divija after Ganesh Visarjan

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife, Amruta Fadnavis, and daughter Divija Fadnavis on Saturday participated in the Divyaj Foundation's annual 'Sea Shore Shine 2026' beach clean-up drive at Mumbai's Juhu Beach, a day after Ganesh Visarjan.

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn also joined Amruta, Divija and volunteers in the clean-up initiative, which was organised to address the waste left behind following the large-scale idol immersions during Anant Chaturdashi.

The campaign, organised by the Divyaj Foundation in partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police, aimed to promote environmental awareness and encourage citizens to take responsibility for keeping the city's beaches clean.

Speaking to reporters, Divija Fadnavis stressed the importance of involving young people in such initiatives.

"I think it's very important for the youth and younger generation to be involved in social initiatives like beach clean-ups, because it gives us a sense of responsibility towards our nation and builds confidence in ourselves to ensure that we keep our beaches and our nation clean," she said.

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide also joined the clean-up drive at Juhu Beach, supporting the campaign's focus on environmental awareness and post-festival cleanliness.

Ajay Devgn, who was seen actively participating in the clean-up and collecting waste, said he wanted to be part of the initiative because of its creative approach.

"Because this is a creative initiative. I wanted to thank the whole team, so I want to be a part of it, and I am a part of it," Devgn said.

Amruta Fadnavis, who founded the Divyaj Foundation, has been leading the annual initiative to promote cleanliness along Mumbai's coastline. Speaking to IANS, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said the foundation had been working on beach cleanliness for the past six years and that Amruta personally participated in the clean-up efforts.

"Several NGOs and spiritual organisations are also associated with this initiative. This is a great work. The immersion has been completed, but we ourselves should keep our city clean," Kadam said.

The clean-up drive brought together volunteers, students, civic officials, NGOs and citizens, who worked to remove waste from the beach and spread awareness about responsible waste disposal.

Ganesh Visarjan was observed on Friday, September 25, coinciding with Anant Chaturdashi and marking the conclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha after bringing idols home or installing them in public pandals, with the immersion accompanied by prayers, devotional songs and offerings.

The large-scale immersions also bring environmental concerns, particularly regarding waste, paints and non-biodegradable materials that can enter water bodies and affect aquatic ecosystems and marine life. Post-visarjan clean-up drives therefore play an important role in removing waste and encouraging greater public awareness about protecting beaches and other water bodies.

The initiative also marks another year of celebrity participation in Amruta Fadnavis' beach-cleaning campaign. In 2025, actor Akshay Kumar had joined her for a similar clean-up drive at Juhu Beach following Ganpati Visarjan.