Highlights
- Nitin, an artist at Pranjal Arts Center has made 'sanitiser Ganesha idols'
- It symbolises that Lord Ganesha will distance this virus from us: Nitin
- Nitin has made 3 such idols; plans to make more as the booking continues
Mumbai: Ahead of Ganesha Chaturthi, an artist in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area has made ‘sanitiser Ganesha idols’ keeping in view the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Ganesha idols have sensor machines installed in them which dispense sanitiser every time people place their hands under it. While speaking to ANI, Nitin Ramdas Chaudhary, an artist at Pranjal Arts Center, said that he designs idols with innovative and interesting themes every year, and this year in view of COVID-19, he made idols that dispense sanitiser.
Since we believe that Lord Ganesha solves all our problems, I have used sanitiser in the weapon of the idol. It symbolises that Lord Ganesha will distance this virus from us. When devotees come to take darshans, the sanitiser is dispensed through the weapon automatically. Despite several efforts by the administration and government, the COVID-19 pandemic is not reducing, he said.
Maharashtra: An artist from Mumbai's Ghatkopar has made 'sanitizer Ganesha idols' ahead of #GaneshaChaturthi.
He says, "COVID-19 is still here, so I have made idols that dispense sanitizer. It functions automatically when people place their hands under it to sanitize them." pic.twitter.com/ns5SPP3CSt
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020
Even though the demand for Ganesha idols is less this year in comparison to previous years, people have shown their interest in these unique idols.
There is lesser demand this year, but since people are seeing such as idol for the first time, the demand is increasing, said Mr Chaudhary.
Mr Chaudhary said that he has made 2-3 such idols so far, but he plans to make more idols as the booking for the idol continues.
I have fitted in 2-3 idols, but booking continues. We get orders from different places such as Goa, Kolkata, etc. Customers can book the idols online and it will be transported to them, they don’t have to come here, he said.
“The materials used in making the idols were hard to find and I had to get it from different parts of the country which was a problem, but I was determined to make the sanitiser Ganesha idols. I have also installed lights in the idol which can be operated through a remote,” he added.
The 10-day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi, the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, will begin on August 22. The festivities end with the final immersion of an idol of Lord Ganesha, called the Visarjan.
The festival is celebrated with much grandeur in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat among other states.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
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