Towards a Cleaner and Greener Future

The Hulukudi Hills Fair is more than just a spiritual gathering—it’s a symbol of tradition, devotion, and community spirit, drawing over 30,000 devotees to the sacred Narasimha Temple each year. However, with such a grand gathering comes an environmental challenge: tons of plastic waste, primarily from water bottles, plastic covers, and disposable plates.

This year, Good Living Trust, with the incredible support of Exalogic volunteers, along with contributions from Adamya Chethana and Mitu Foundation, led a transformative initiative to reduce plastic waste, promote sustainable practices, and inspire a shift towards environmental responsibility.

Our Sustainable Actions

1. Replacing Plastic Covers with Cloth Bags

To prevent plastic covers from reaching the hilltop, over 1,000 cloth bags were distributed with a refundable deposit system, encouraging devotees to return the bags after use. Huge thanks to Mitu Foundation for stitching these eco-friendly bags, helping us cut down on single-use plastics.

2. Unified Water Distribution Points

To minimize plastic bottle usage, 30 water dispensers were installed, and 1,000 steel glasses were used at the main food distribution counters—provided rent-free by Adamya Chethana. This switch replaced over 6,000 plastic water bottles and prevented 2-3 thousand litres of drinking water wastage, while ensuring cleanliness through the sanitization of steel glasses after every use.

3. Expanding Waste Management Facilities

To tackle littering and plastic pollution, over 100 waste disposal points were set up across the fairgrounds, complete with clear signage guiding devotees. This prevented plastic waste from reaching nearby water bodies and agricultural lands, ensuring a cleaner environment.

4. Volunteer-Led Awareness & Clean-up Drives

With the support of 50+ Exalogic volunteers, awareness campaigns were conducted to educate visitors about plastic pollution, promote waste segregation, and encourage eco-friendly practices. Volunteers also actively monitored waste disposal and ensured a thorough clean-up post-event.

Impact of the Initiative

• 50% reduction in plastic waste compared to previous years
• 6,000+ plastic water bottles avoided
• 1,000 cloth bags distributed, cutting down plastic covers
• 100+ waste disposal points created for easy waste management
• 2-3 thousand litres of drinking water saved through efficient water distribution
• 50+ volunteers engaged in awareness, waste monitoring, and clean-up

Defining Success in Sustainability

In initiatives like this, success isn’t measured by the number of tasks completed—it’s measured by the positive changes inspired in individuals and communities.

Here’s what made this initiative a true success:

Driving Organizational Change:

We successfully convinced the temple trust to shift to reusable steel tumblers, showcasing the power of collective influence in promoting sustainable practices.

Inspiring Immediate Action:

One of the most impactful moments was seeing a visitor turn into a volunteer on the spot—highlighting the power of purpose-driven actions to motivate others.

Sparking Intergenerational Awareness:

Witnessing parents explain the importance of waste management to their children was a reminder of how small actions today can create lasting awareness for future generations.

Community Recognition:

Trekkers and visitors expressed gratitude for the efforts to keep the hill area litter-free, reflecting the positive influence of setting an example for the community.

Success lies in changing even one person’s mind-set or behaviour. That one person can inspire 10 more, creating a ripple effect that expands into a network of environmentally conscious individuals.