Ganesh puja celebration in the City of Destiny turned green this year, thanks to the “Green Ganesha” campaign launched by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
As part of its resolve to create awareness against use of chemicals and Plaster of Paris in idol-making, INTACH conducted a workshop among the school students in the city at Mrs. AVN College High School. This was for the second year in a row with the first one conducted at Andhra University High School.
At the workshop, the students were given tips on how to make the idol by using clay. Imagination took wing at the programme when the students exhibited their creativity.
Lethal
“Using chemicals and POP will lead to contamination of ocean wealth when they are immersed in the sea. Even if immersion is done in river or pond or any water body, it will lead to contamination of water,” remarked P. Balaji, Std. IX student of Andhra University High School.
Ankita, a Std. VII student of Delhi Public School, said that they had passed a resolution at home to use only idols made with clay in future.
“Use of plastic and chemicals should be banned as it spoils the environment,” remarked Navaratna of MVDM High School.
“Though we conducted the workshop, going by the mood among the participants, I feel as if it is a big festival. Hence, I would like to term our workshop named “Mridh Vinayakam” a big festival,” Rani Sarma, INTACH Visakhapatnam district convenor, said.
In all 320 students representing 18 schools participated. The idols were made with clay. Some were standing under a tree and some, sitting on a lotus or under the hood of a snake. Former Mayor D.V. Subba Rao, noted physician Kutikuppala Surya Rao, sculptor and AU Fine Arts Professor Ravi Shankar Patnaik, INTACH members Indrani Jagga Row, Jayasri Hattangadi and others were present.
