During the event, the Chief Minister visited the historic Galteshwar Mahadev temple, dating back to the 12th century, appreciating its architecture and learning about Sage Galav's significance, while also seeking blessings for Gujarat’s welfare.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 76th Van Mahotsav at Galteshwar in Kheda district, emphasizing the state's environmental initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, including climate change efforts, renewable energy, and water conservation.

The celebration marked the dedication of a new 7-hectare cultural forest and the launch of the Gujarat State Wetland Authority's website, highlighting efforts to promote regional flora, cultural heritage, and ecological balance.

Gujarat has significantly increased its green cover by over 1,143 square kilometers through urban forests, Miyawaki plantations, and the planting of 17.50 crore saplings last year, with a target of 10.35 crore saplings for this year under the initiative 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0'.

The state is also developing sacred groves, rural plantations, and social forestry projects across thousands of hectares, including efforts to develop urban forests and agroforestry along roadsides and coastlines.

The celebrations underscored Gujarat’s commitment to environmental conservation, linking cultural and religious values that see divinity in nature, and highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s role in transforming Van Mahotsav into Jan Mahotsav to encourage broader public participation.

Prominent political and environmental leaders, including MPs, MLAs, district officials, and social workers, attended the event to raise awareness about climate change, religious and medicinal trees, and the importance of collective efforts in sustainable development.

The event aimed to foster love for nature among citizens, emphasizing the importance of ecological balance, and included the inauguration of the Cultural Forest to promote regional flora and cultural heritage.

Cultural forests are central to Gujarat’s environmental strategy, aiming to raise awareness about religious and medicinal trees, contribute to climate change mitigation, and expand green cover through large-scale plantation projects.

The historic Galteshwar temple, protected as a Monument of National Importance, is notable for its unique Gujarati Chaulukya architecture and is a symbol of Gujarat’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Gujarat considers environmental conservation vital for sustainable growth, with plans to develop sacred groves, urban forests, and implement plantation schemes across thousands of hectares, balancing industrial development with ecological preservation.

The Chief Minister emphasized that caring for nature aligns with cultural values that see divinity in every being and plant, and praised Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to transform Van Mahotsav into Jan Mahotsav for greater public engagement.

Gujarat’s green initiatives include plantation drives along highways, creating forest cottages, organizing farmer training camps, and projects like Van Kavach, all aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability as a core development pillar.