“Along with a Flower Pot, Plant a Flower Pot” 

Celebrating a Young EcoHero on Children’s Day 2025

Children’s Day 2025 celebrates more than the joy of childhood; it celebrates courage, creativity, and the power of youth to transform the planet. Among India’s brightest changemakers stands Manya Harsha, a Young EcoHero and Climate Warrior whose dedication to environmental conservation continues to inspire millions. This year, her Diwali campaign, “Along With A Flower Pot, Plant A Flower Pot,” shines as a glowing example of how small, mindful actions can make festivals sustainable and joyful.

Born in Bengaluru, Manya Harsha has spent her teenage years turning compassion for nature into tangible change. Through her flagship initiative SUNSHINE – Children for Change, she has redefined what youth-led climate action means in India. As a Climate Warrior, she encourages children everywhere to celebrate responsibly, live sustainably, and nurture the Earth with love and purpose.

The Meaning Behind “Along With A Flower Pot, Plant A Flower Pot”

This Children’s Day 2025, the spotlight is on Manya Harsha’s inspiring Diwali campaign. The idea is beautifully simple: for every decorative flower pot burst during Diwali, plant a living flower pot filled with soil and seeds. The initiative fuses tradition with sustainability, reminding people that true celebration lies in nurturing life rather than producing waste.

Through this campaign, Manya Harsha the Young EcoHero distributed 3,000 saplings to families across Bengaluru, encouraging them to decorate their homes with greenery and make Diwali a festival of life. As she explains, celebrating with awareness does not reduce joy—it multiplies it. Her campaign resonates deeply in a world searching for balance between culture and climate responsibility.

How a Young EcoHero Turned Festivals into Climate Action

At just 15 years old, Manya Harsha has already transformed countless lives through practical eco-friendly campaigns. Her philosophy is simple: every act, no matter how small, contributes to the collective fight against climate change. The “Along With A Flower Pot, Plant A Flower Pot” initiative builds on her years of environmental work, linking celebration with conservation.
She believes festivals offer perfect opportunities for environmental education. Through workshops and community events, she teaches families to reuse materials, compost organic waste, and plant trees together. The campaign bridges generations, reminding adults and children alike that climate action can be joyful, colorful, and deeply rooted in tradition.

SUNSHINE – Children for Change: The Heart of a Climate Warrior’s Mission

The SUNSHINE Children for Change movement lies at the core of Manya’s mission as a Young EcoHero. Through this initiative, she has distributed over 20,000 saplings and 25,000 sustainable bags, personally planting more than 15,600 trees and scattering 10,000 seed bombs. She organizes clean-ups of lakes, highways, and forests, turning neglected areas into thriving green spaces.
The campaign empowers children to become climate leaders, using creativity and teamwork to fight pollution and promote sustainability. Each activity—from planting drives to eco-friendly crafts—embodies her message that children are not too young to make a difference.

The Sunshine Fortnightly Environment Magazine

As the Founder and Chief Editor of Sunshine Fortnightly Environment Magazine, Manya Harsha has created a unique educational platform for environmental awareness. Thousands of copies circulate among schools and libraries, inspiring students to read, reflect, and act.
The magazine’s simple language and colorful visuals make complex environmental topics easy to grasp. It features stories of green innovations, contests, and practical tips for eco-friendly living. Through this publication, the Young EcoHero continues to nurture a generation of young readers who think critically about sustainability and take pride in protecting nature.

Innovating for the Planet: DIY Vegetable Paper and Upcycling Ideas

Innovation defines Manya Harsha the Climate Warrior. She has developed DIY vegetable paper from kitchen and festival waste, proving that creativity can turn discarded materials into art and utility. She also upcycles brown wrappers into paper pencils and seed pens—useful, biodegradable, and educational.
These hands-on experiments encourage schools to integrate sustainability into their curriculums. They show children that recycling can be exciting, purposeful, and even entrepreneurial. Manya’s inventive spirit reflects the essence of a Young EcoHero who blends science, culture, and compassion.

Grandma’s Green Weave: A Saree to Sustain

Among her numerous projects, Grandma’s Green Weave holds a special place in Manya’s heart. Launched in memory of her grandmother, V. Rudramma, this campaign transforms old sarees and bedspreads into sustainable cloth bags. Over 19,000 bags have already replaced plastic in local markets, giving new life to traditional fabrics.
The initiative combines cultural heritage with sustainability and provides vendors with eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. It exemplifies Manya’s belief that climate action should be inclusive, community-driven, and rooted in shared values.

Education and Outreach of a Climate Warrior

Manya Harsha’s influence extends far beyond campaigns. She regularly conducts seminars, workshops, and guest lectures for students of all ages—from preschoolers to college graduates. She organizes sapling drives on Independence Day and Children’s Day, ensuring each event becomes a lesson in responsibility and hope.
Her water-conservation education program, recognized by UN Water, highlights her commitment to long-term change. Through consistent outreach, she has turned environmental awareness into a continuous movement that grows with every child she inspires.

Recognition and Awards of a Young EcoHero

Manya Harsha’s extraordinary journey as a Climate Warrior has earned her numerous national and international accolades. She is the recipient of the 2023 International Young Eco Hero Award from Action For Nature, the Water Hero Award 2020 from India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, the EDN Rising Star Award from Earth Day Network India, and recognition from UN Water for her continued educational efforts.
Her other honors include the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program 2024, the Humanitarian Excellence Award, the Grandmaster Title from Asia Book of Records, and multiple recognitions in India Book of Records and Karnataka Achievers Book of Records. These achievements reinforce her position as one of India’s leading Young EcoHeroes and a global symbol of youth-driven climate advocacy.

A Message to Children on Children’s Day 2025

On Children’s Day 2025, Manya Harsha calls upon every child to rise as a Climate Warrior. Her message is clear and powerful: “The Earth is not for sale. Don’t wait for a superhero to lead the march of climate activism – be one yourself.”
She reminds youth that small actions matter: planting a sapling, refusing plastic, saving water, or reusing materials can start a ripple of transformation. Her philosophy embodies the true meaning of Children’s Day—celebrating potential, compassion, and responsibility.

Impact Summary: The Legacy of a Young EcoHero

The results of Manya Harsha’s work speak for themselves. Her initiatives have distributed tens of thousands of saplings and sustainable bags, restored polluted areas, inspired thousands of students through workshops, and provided creative solutions for waste reduction.
Her Diwali campaign, “Along With A Flower Pot, Plant A Flower Pot,” alone united communities in green celebration, turning festive joy into environmental action. Each effort, whether a clean-up or a magazine article, adds another layer to her mission of building a cleaner and greener India.

Why We Celebrate Manya Harsha on Children’s Day 2025

Children’s Day 2025 is not only about honoring young minds—it is about recognizing young leaders like Manya Harsha the Young EcoHero and Climate Warrior who demonstrate that age is no barrier to impact. Her projects encourage schools, NGOs, and communities to embed environmental awareness into daily life.
Recently acknowledged as a Green Crusader by The Hindu, Manya embodies hope and resilience for the planet. Celebrating her achievements on this day reaffirms India’s faith in its youth to lead the charge against climate change.

Conclusion: Lighting the Earth with Hope and Action

As India celebrates Children’s Day 2025, Manya Harsha the Young EcoHero and Climate Warrior reminds us that the greatest festivals are those that give back to the Earth. Her Diwali initiative, “Along With A Flower Pot, Plant A Flower Pot,” has transformed the spirit of celebration into a movement of renewal.
Through her tireless work, she continues to plant seeds—both literal and symbolic—that promise a brighter, greener tomorrow. Manya Harsha’s journey proves that when children lead with compassion, creativity, and courage, the world truly changes for the better.