Eco Friendly Ganesh Idols
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Eco-Friendly Ganesh murtis (idol) are made of paper pulp (paper mache), natural colours, and natural gum. These idols are completely bio degradable when immersed in water. The colours used in these idols are environment friendly and have less than permissible limits of lead content. These idols dissolve completely in water and do not leave behind any toxic waste.
Contents
History
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During the Hindu festival of Ganesha Chaturthi, (a festival celebrated in honour of Lord Ganesha), devotees bring home Lord Ganesha idols made up of clay, plaster of paris or wood and they are worshipped for a period of two to ten days. After the festival is over, the idols are immersed in water bodies such as a lake, pond, river or sea.
Environmental Impact of Ganesha Idols made from Plaster of Paris (POP)
Lord Ganesh idols are often made from various materials ranging from clay, wood, and/ or plaster of paris. Very often plaster of paris idols are painted with chemicals and synthetic paints. When Lord Ganesha idols made up of clay are immersed in water at the end of the festival, they do not cause any harm to the quality of water and the surrounding environment. However, it has been noticed that when Ganesh idols made of plaster of paris are immersed in water, the plaster of paris and the toxic nature of colours used to paint the idols cause great harm to the quality of water and the ecosystem. The toxic substances increase the acidity of the water and also leaves behind traces of heavy metals that result in destruction of aquatic life.
Plaster of Paris is fine white powder made by calcifying gypsum. The powder is mixed with water to make a thick paste that can be cast into moulds and made into desired shape. The speciality of POP makes it hard without shrinking or even cracking. The idols made with this material cost much less and the finishing is finer than the clay or mud idols. The synthetic chemicals used in the paint and the PoP spread into the water and pollute the river, increase the acidity of the water and kill a lot of aquatic life while the rest of the remnants get washed back onto the shore within hours. The Plaster of Paris is not a naturally occurring material and it leads to widespread water pollution when immersed in water. Most of the times the chemicals contained in the paint also lead to further pollution of water. The PoP idols do not dissolve in water and are washed back onto the river banks or seashores within few hours after they have been immersed in water.[1]
Whereas the clay, paper or mud idol will simply melt and blend into the waters.
Eco Friendly Ganesha Murti (Idol)
The mythological story of Ganesha’s birth says that Parvati created an idol using her natural bathing ingredients and then gave life to it. Several organizations undertake the work of making Ganesh idols from a bio degradable material (e.g. paper pulp, clay). Various government authorities and non-government organisations like Aniruddha Upasana Trust (followers of Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu) are one of them. These idols are made from a mixture of paper mache [2] (paper pulp of recycled paper), chalk powder, and gum. The paint applied to them is purely natural and it dissolves in water within a few hours after the idols are immersed. These idols get completely dissolved in water without causing any harm to the water quality there by causing no hazardous effects to the environment. Thus these paper pulp idols are termed eco-friendly Ganesh idols.
Using proper techniques and procedures, eco friendly Ganesha idols as large as 11 feet are also being made. Even these idols are in perfect harmony with nature, as they disintegrate within few hours after immersion.
Lord Ganesha murtis of small size as well as large size can be made by using paper pulp. These murtis are worshipped in homes of various devotees as well as in public festivals also.
Recently, there are many youngsters in the various cities have stopped purchasing the idols of PoP and have started making Eco friendly idols made on clay for Ganesh festival.[3]
Other Eco friendly ways
Some people who want to feel the festival in its entirety also place their own Ganesha idol on the pedestal with the supaari and during the time of the visarjan, immerse only the supaari, replacing the idol back in their temple.
Organisation working for Eco Friendly Ganesh Idols
There are many organisations as well as NGOs who are working across India for creating awareness about Eco Friendly Ganesh Idols. Government is also pushing for Eco Friendly Idols.[4] Even, you can also make your own eco friendly ganesh idols at your home.
