New Delhi: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals across India in the month of September. People bring home the idols of the elephant-headed god, made out of multiple materials. But, amid the growing awareness about environmental issues, the way of celebrating has changed significantly. Here is how people across the country paid tribute to Lord Ganesha by mixing tradition with sustainability.
In Surat, a woman artist from Gujarat’s Surat, Aditi Mittal, carved out an eco-friendly idol of Lord Ganesha using waste soaps. She had been making idols of Lord Ganesha with different eco-friendly options for the last six years. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said,
Over the last six years, I have been making eco-friendly Ganesha idols. This year, I thought of carving out Ganesha idols by imbibing Prime Minister Modi’s Swachta Abhiyan.
Ms Mittal used a total of 2,655 kg of soap to make the idol, which took seven days to complete.
A Bhubaneswar-based miniature artist, L. Eswar Rao, also crafted eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha along with goddesses Saraswati and Laxmi on solid clay. A native of Odisha’s Jatni village in Khurda district, Mr Rao has been creating miniature art and idols on penile nib, chalk, turmeric seed, inside bottles, and many more for the last 22 years.
Besides, he has also created a pandal using matchsticks and solid clay, where he installed idols of Lord Ganesha and goddesses Saraswati and Laxmi. It took him seven days to complete the idols and decorative pandal.
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: Odisha-based miniature artist L Eswar Rao creates mini eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha, Goddesses Laxmi and Saraswati for Ganesh Chaturthi. (18.09) pic.twitter.com/M4TzUawPgr
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023
To spread the message of environmental conservation, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and ‘Big Green Ganesha’ launched ‘Eco-Friendly Ganesha’ idols in the city. Mayor Shelly Oberoi flagged off the ‘Eco-Friendly Ganesha’ Rath from the Civic Center. The ‘Eco-Friendly Ganesha’ idols will be available in all areas of the national capital. The mayor informed,
The idol of ‘Eco-Friendly Ganesha’ is made of coconut bark and clay. A seed has been placed in the middle of this idol. When this idol is immersed, the idol will be mixed with the soil. The seeds mixed in the soil will take the form of a plant in a few days.
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On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, several celebrities also shared their pictures with the Ganesh idols and showered wishes on everyone. However, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, celebrated the occasion in an eco-friendly way. The couple opted for an eco-friendly Ganpati this year.
In an effort towards nature preservation, Ganesha idols made out of clay were distributed by the Friends Foundation in Tandur, Telangana.
Participated in Distributed clay Ganesha idols organized by "friends foundation" in Tandur for eco friendly Ganesh chaturthi celebrations as a little effort towards nature preservation and stopping water pollution.#ecofriendly #ganeshidols #GaneshChaturthi #distribution pic.twitter.com/zGUw8u6djz
— PATLOLLA DEEPA NARSIMULU (@DeepaNarsimulu) September 14, 2023
On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Maharashtra’s Dr. D. Y. Patil Public School organised an eco-friendly Ganpati-making activity. Children tried their hands in the natural clay and created beautiful idols of Lord Ganesh.
On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi our school organize Eco friendly Ganpati making activity. It was really a fun for the children's to put their hands in the natural clay and produce beautiful idols of Lord Ganesh. pic.twitter.com/Hqli2qzIlu
— Dr. D. Y. Patil Public School (@DPUPublicschool) September 14, 2023
Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Eco-friendly Ganesha Idols Being Prepared Ahead Of Ganesh Chaturthi
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
