With the campaign for ‘Eco Ganesha’ gaining momentum and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board banning Plaster of paris Vinayaka idols, the district unit of the Hindu Munnani has made arrangements for making about 200 environment-friendly idols for this year’s Vinayaka Chathurthi.
Even before the pollution control board banned the use of chemical painted and plaster of paris idols, the Hindu Munnani had been promoting use of biodegradable idols and this year too it had placed orders with its Kancheepuram unit to supply 200 idols, K. Ramamurthy, district secretary, said.
The Kancheepuram unit of Hindu Munnani had been engaged in making Vinayaka idols for the past 20 years and eco-friendly idols for the past five years, to be supplied to its outfits throughout the State ahead of Ganesh Chathurthi festival, Munnani Kancheepuram district secretary J. Gnanavel said.
An expert in making Ganesh idols, he said that after they switched over to the making of eco-friendly idols, they used only tapioca and chalk powders and water colour to make the idols of 3 ft to 10 ft sizes.
As they received orders from various districts, they start the work during December-January every year and delivere the idols well ahead of the festival in September.
The idols were weightless and four people could easily carry a 10-ft idol, Mr. Gnanavel said.
After immersion, the idols would melt away in less than 15 minutes without causing any hazard to the environment.
They have brought here about 300 idols of different sizes to be supplied to the Hindu Munnani in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts, he said. The idols would be ready for distribution after completion of painting in couple of days, he added.
The Hindu Munnai proposed to install the idols in Rameswaram, Pamban, Thangachimadam, Mandapam, Devipattinam and Paramakudi and take out processions on September 18, Mr. Ramamurthy said. In Ramanathapuram, the procession would be taken out the next day, he added.
