Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) entered the World Book of Records on Friday, September 11, 2026, after 25,000 students from 55 schools simultaneously crafted eco‑friendly clay Ganesha idols as part of its Green Ganesh programme.
The event, organized under the Nava Guntur initiative, was centrally monitored at NTR Stadium. GMC Commissioner K. Mayur Ashok, MLAs Galla Madhavi, Naseer Ahmed, and Boorla Ramanjaneyulu, Andhra Pradesh State Technology Services chairman Mannava Mohan Krishna, and other officials participated in the ceremony.
World Book of Records, London, Joint Secretary Eliaz formally announced the record and presented the registration certificate. He noted that the previous record involved 8,750 participants, while the Guntur initiative set a new benchmark with 25,000 students working simultaneously.
Commissioner Ashok said the programme aimed to raise awareness among children about celebrating festivals while protecting the environment. The 25,000 clay idols are intended to keep families from using plaster‑of‑Paris and chemically coloured idols. Special attractions at the stadium included a sand Ganesha idol, a clay idol, and a painting. The Commissioner congratulated educational institutions, GMC, and the Education Department for the programme’s success and pledged continued environmental initiatives such as tree plantation and enforcement against single‑use plastic.
