New Delhi, Mar 24, 2025: The 19th edition of the Earth Hour on Mar 22 made key landmarks across the national capital, including India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and New Parliament House, “switched off” to emphasise the importance of collective action for the conservation of the planet and its precious water resources. The World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-India) celebrated the convergence of Earth Hour 2025 with World Water Day with a vibrant festival that brought together music, art, and architecture to create a wave of change with the theme #BeWaterWise.
At WWF-India’s Earth Hour Festival 2025, celebrated musician and WWF-India’s Hope & Harmony Ambassador, Shantanu Moitra, shared stories from his 2,700-km journey along the Ganga River and performed alongside Nyishi singer-songwriter Taba Chake, highlighting the connection between music, communities, and environmental awareness. Bharat Lal, SG & CEO of National Human Rights Commission, delivered a special address, emphasizing the importance of human rights in the context of environmental sustainability. An art installation capturing the essence of the endangered Ganges river dolphin, India's national aquatic animal, created from scrap metal by contemporary Indian artist Gopal Namjoshi, was unveiled at the festival. The approximately 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide striking sculpture made with mild steel scrap, will be a permanent feature at the WWF-India office in New Delhi, symbolising the organization’s long-standing commitment to water and biodiversity conservation. World-renowned Indian sand artist and Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik created one of his signature sand art sculptures on the Puri beach in Odisha — depicting the Switch-off and #BeWaterWise messages of Earth Hour 2025.
Ravi Singh, Secretary-General and CEO, WWF-India, said, “The Earth Hour Festival has become a WWF-India statement over the last two years. This year, it has given a worthy stage to our community partners while also igniting conversations around conservation through art, architecture and music. We were honoured to have Mr Bharat Lal, Secretary General & CEO of NHRC, address the gathering and felicitate the Water Heroes. I would like to specially thank our ambassadors, panellists, dignitaries and guests for making this a memorable evening. The musical storytelling session by Mr Shantanu Moitra and Mr Taba Chake was a grand culmination of the festival.”
"As an artist and environmentalist, it has been an exciting evening for me to address a crowd full of nature and conservation enthusiasts. I carry many stories and tunes from my journey along the River Ganga, and there could not have been a better time and stage to deliver them than WWF-India's Earth Hour Festival 2025", said Shantanu Moitra, WWF-India’s Hope & Harmony Ambassador.
Speaking about the unveiling of his art installation, renowned muralist, sculptor and installation artist Gopal Namjoshi said, "Creating this installation of the Ganges river dolphin has been a deeply meaningful experience for me. Art has the power to transform perceptions and inspire action, and I hope this piece will encourage people to reflect on their relationship with nature and the urgent need to protect our rivers."
During the festival, Tarana Sawhney (Chairperson, Confederation of Indian Industry’s Task Force for Art & Culture), Ratish Nanda (CEO, Aga Khan Trust for Culture India), and Vikramjit Singh Rooprai (author, Delhi Heritage: Top 10 Baolis), engaged in an insightful discussion deliberating on the #BeWaterWise aspect of the Earth Hour Festival through the lenses of art, architecture and history. Five inspiring Water Heroes - community stewards of conservation – Tejpal Singh, Dr Seema Mahendra, Narendra Singh, Laxmi Khushwaha, and Rekha, also shared their stories and insights on grassroots transformation, showcasing the importance of local action in addressing water challenges.
Tarana Sawhney, Chairperson, Confederation of Indian Industry’s Task Force for Art & Culture, and Member of the Philanthropy Advisory Board of WWF-India, said, “As India faces increasing water scarcity due to rapid urbanisation, climate change and over-exploitation of water resources, the need for sustainable water management has never been more critical. Earth Hour 2025 serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency to conserve our planet’s precious resources. Water, often symbolising life, purity, and renewal has always been an important theme in the visual arts. In recent times, it has also become a powerful tool for both visualising and confronting the consequences of water scarcity, compelling viewers to think critically about their personal and collective responsibility towards water conservation.”
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