Mumbai, Maharashtra, 12th of August, 2026 : Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation supported public infrastructure made from recycled plastic at Pandharpur Ashadhi Wari 2026, one of Maharashtra’s prominent annual pilgrimages. Implemented in collaboration with Econscious, Ecodeco – The Recycle Home Private Limited, Lakshya, and bottler HCCB, the initiative supported pilgrims, volunteers and on-ground authorities while strengthening waste management during the Wari. The initiative was part of Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation’s ongoing flagship campaign #MaidaanSaaf which focuses on responsible and structured waste collection, segregation and recycling at high-footfall cultural and sporting events across India.
As lakhs of Warkaris travelled in Dindis over several days, the initiative supported essential public amenities and waste collection infrastructure along the pilgrimage route.
As part of the initiative, 20 women friendly changing rooms were installed along the riverbed for Warkaris. Featuring illustrated walls promoting responsible waste management, the installations combined public convenience with awareness messages encouraging Warkaris and visitors to dispose of waste responsibly. Additionally, two police watch towers were set up to support crowd management, nearly 2,000 waste bags were provided for plastic waste collection, and 1,000 raincoats were distributed to volunteers and police personnel supporting the Wari. Additional waste collection infrastructure, including dustbins, was also deployed across key locations to encourage responsible waste disposal throughout the pilgrimage.
Commenting on the initiative, Devyani R. L. Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, said, “At Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation, we believe lasting impact comes from partnerships and solutions that are rooted in community needs. Through Maidaan Saaf at the Pandharpur Wari, we worked with our partners to support essential public infrastructure while reinforcing the importance of waste collection and recycling. The initiative reflects our continued effort to contribute to cleaner public spaces.”
Himanshu Priyadarshi, Chief Public Affairs and Sustainability Officer, HCCB, stated, “Large community gatherings such as the Pandharpur Wari provide an important opportunity to encourage responsible environmental practices through collective participation. Recycled plastic has been transformed into functional public infrastructure that supports pilgrims, demonstrating how collected plastic can be put to meaningful use. Initiatives like these reflect the potential of collaboration in strengthening public amenities at community gatherings.”
Speaking about the effort, Vaibhav Verma, Co-Founder, Econscious, said, “When we worked together on these installations, focus was to integrate waste management into spaces that Warkaris, volunteers and authorities used throughout the Wari. Creating visible, functional infrastructure not only supported public convenience but also encouraged responsible waste handling practices during the pilgrimage.”
Through collaborations with local partners, the Maidaan Saaf continues to strengthen waste management infrastructure and encourage responsible waste management practices at large community events.
About Maidaan Saaf
Maidaan Saaf is a campaign by Coca-Cola India and Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation, that focuses on promoting responsible plastic waste collection, segregation, and recycling at high-footfall cultural or sporting events. It reinforces our broader environmental goals by helping to build stronger waste collection systems, encouraging the reuse of materials like post-consumer PET, and raising awareness about the value of recycling. Launched in 2023 during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the campaign has since been activated at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, as well as India’s iconic festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, Maharashtra; Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha; and most recently, Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Driven by innovation, collaboration, and community action, Maidaan Saaf continues to evolve as a multi-dimensional campaign grounded in a commitment to making a meaningful difference.
For more information on Maidaan Saaf, please visit the website at https://www.maidaansaaf.com
About Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation
The Coca-Cola India Foundation, a Company registered under Section 25 of the Companies’ Act is committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth by focusing on areas that aim to create a better and healthy society, and a strong and resolute India by enabling the common man to better his or her life. In order to promote the Foundation’s objectives, monetary grants and other assistance is provided to NGOs, beneficiary organizations, cooperatives, philanthropies, and such others who can be suitable partners in implementing projects for social welfare across the country.
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