#BeWaterWise: WWF-India’s Earth Hour Festival 2025 merges art, activism and sustainability for water awareness

World Wide Fund for Nature-India celebrated Earth Hour on 22^nd March with a vibrant Earth Hour Festival 2025, bringing together art, music, and environmental activism. The event, themed #BeWaterWise, underscored the urgent need for water conservation and collective action to safeguard natural resources.

In a powerful visual statement, several of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks—including India Gate, Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Qutub Minar—are set to switch off their lights in solidarity with the global movement. This year, Earth Hour aligns with World Water Day, amplifying conversations around sustainable water use.

Celebrated musician and WWF-India’s Hope & Harmony Ambassador, Shantanu Moitra, captivated the audience by sharing stories from his 2,700-km journey along the Ganga River, intertwining music with environmental awareness. He performed alongside acclaimed Nyishi singer-songwriter Taba Chake, using melodies to highlight the deep connection between communities and nature.

Adding to the festival’s impact, Bharat Lal, Secretary General & CEO of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), addressed the gathering, emphasizing the fundamental link between human rights and environmental sustainability.

One of the festival’s standout moments was the unveiling of a striking scrap-metal sculpture of the endangered Ganges river dolphin, created by contemporary Indian artist Gopal Namjoshi. Standing approximately 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, the artwork—crafted from mild steel scrap—will be permanently displayed at WWF-India’s New Delhi office as a symbol of water conservation and biodiversity protection.

Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee, Sudarsan Pattnaik, contributed to the festival’s artistic engagement by crafting a sand sculpture on Puri Beach, Odisha, depicting the Switch-off and #BeWaterWise messages of Earth Hour 2025.

The festival provided a platform for five inspiring Water Heroes—local conservationists working at the grassroots level—to share their journeys. Tejpal Singh, Dr. Seema Mahendra, Narendra Singh, Laxmi Khushwaha, and Rekha highlighted the importance of community-driven initiatives in tackling India’s growing water crisis.

Reflecting on the festival’s impact, Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary-General and CEO of 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.”

Speaking about his performance, Shantanu Moitra shared
“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.”

On the unveiling of his dolphin installation, Gopal Namjoshi expressed. “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,” said Namjoshi.

As part of the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, several major landmarks in the national capital will switch off their lights for Earth Hour, including India Gate,
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament House, Old Fort, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Akshardham, Hauz Khas Fort, Jantar Mantar, Kotla Firoz Shah, Safdarjung Tomb, Tughlaqabad Fort, and Sunder Nursery.

Initiated in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a worldwide movement, inspiring millions to take action against climate change and environmental degradation. Today, more than 190 countries and territories participate in the movement, making it the Biggest Hour For Earth.

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