Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of pomp and colour. But for environment lovers, the immersion of plaster of Paris (PoP) idols painted with chemical paints has been a source of much consternation. For several years, environment-conscious residents of Bengaluru have been pushing for the use of eco-friendly Ganeshas, with varying shades of success.
Several residents have adapted their beliefs around the need to protect the environment. “According to the Hindu belief, Ganesha visits our home every year, and takes away all our sorrows when he is immersed. I feel such beliefs can be changed to protect our environment and not harm it,” said Anuradha Joshi, an interior designer and a resident of J.P. Nagar. She feels metal Ganeshas— that can be used over the years— are a good option. If that is not possible, mud or clay idols made without artificial colours and that can be immersed in buckets can be used, she added.
Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) in the city have been pushing for adopting eco-friendly alternatives for a while now.
At Sanjaynagar, residents plan to make eco-friendly Ganesha idols on the spot this Sunday.“We want people to understand the need for considering the environment on this day,” said Sathyanarayan, founding member of Citizens for Sustainability and a resident of Sanjaynagar.
Others have taken to social media to spread the message of not using PoP idols, and instead buy idols made of mud or other organic material.
“We have been promoting eco-friendly Ganeshas in our social media groups. Recently, we held a marathon and on the day of the event, put up a stall on how to make mud Ganeshas,” said Jagadeesh Kotturshettar, president of Sarjapur RWA.
One concern they have is that while last year, many lakes in the area had dried up, this year some are filled with water.
“We are keeping an eye out to ensure people do not pollute the lakes,” said Mr. Kotturshettar, adding that the association has spoken to a pandal owner who had put up a PoP idol on Sarjapur Road and advised him not to immerse the idol.
Nitin Sheshadri, member of Koramangala RWA, added that over the years people have made a shift to mud idols.
“Earlier we had to go a distance to buy these, now they are easily available everywhere,” he said. Some craftsmen have come up with innovative solutions like idols made of gobar which will dissolve in water.
With the government keen to push for an eco-friendly festival, one hopes that residents will also keep the environment in mind this Ganesh Chaturthi.
A Ganapati that grows
On Tuesday, students of Government High School, Magadi Road, Police Colony, made eco-friendly Ganeshas with a green twist - once immersed, they will grow into plants.
The children used whatever seeds were available at home, such as groundnut, chickpea and coriander. "The idol has to be kept in a pot with small stones and manure, and covered in water. Some mud can be also be added. In ten to 15 days, saplings will begin to sprout," said Guruprasad R., south regional head of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, which has undertaken the initiative.
PoP idols cannot be immersed in tanks
While resident associations try to encourage eco-friendly idols, government officials are going all out to prevent old stocks of PoP idols from polluting lakes in the city. As per the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, there are about 1 lakh old stocks of PoP idols in the State, of which around 30,000 are in Karnataka. "We have given directions for the scientific disposal of PoP idols. The public cannot immerse them in tanks and have to dispose them either in landfills or in cement kilns," said KSPCB chairman Lakshman. BBMP officials have been imposing fines on residents found to be using PoP idols, and have constructed temporary tanks in several parts of Bengaluru where residents can immerse mud idols, Mr. Lakshman added.
Most people have already started moving in this direction. In our house we have been buying mud ganeshas for the last 10 years. I think people have slowly getting more conscious about the need to protect the environment, and I hope big pandals also follow suit. - Nitin Sheshadri, member of Koramangala RWA
Instead of blaming authorities that they have not made sufficient provision to immerse idols, why can't we start eco-friendly practices as a first step ? - Anuradha Joshi, interior designer
