Greens on move to promote clay Ganesha

Posters distributed highlighting the harmful effects of PoP. The total cost of the ‘Green Ganesha’ campaign is about Rs 25,000. The idols will have no colours so that it dissolves without any pollution effect.

Children engrossed in filling the mounds with clay in Visakhapatnam. Photo: K.R. Deepak

This Vinayaka Chavithi, a team of young green activists have got together to champion the cause of using eco-friendly Ganeshas and revive the age-old tradition of using Ganesha idols made of natural clay. Around 20 activists from NGOs like Green Climate Women’s team, MEECONS, Trendsetters Charitable Trust, and Green Guardian’s Society conducted an awareness programme on Tuesday near GVMC and distributed posters that highlighted the harmful effects of using Plastic of Paris (PoP) idols.

“Our ancestors used to make Ganesha idols of clay procured from their own homes and immerse them in their own ponds or wells. This would be a symbolic way of describing the cycle of creation and dissolution in nature. But after the advent of Plaster of Paris (PoP), this became a preferred choice for sculptors, since PoP idols are cheaper, less fragile, and easier to transport,” said Sandhya Parimala Vijapurapu, a member of Green Climate.

While PoP idols can give the grandeur, the NGOs in the city are stressing on the implications of using them through various channels, including social media. “Green Climate has been working towards creating awareness on using eco-friendly Ganeshas since 2005. We are hoping that this year we can reach out to a maximum number of people by way of campaigns at different spots in the city and even colleges,” said J.V. Ratnam, founder of Green Climate.

Wings of Fire Society, another city-based NGO, is going a step forward by distributing 500 small clay Ganesha idols, free of cost, to families at NAD Kotha Road. “We are also installing a 15-feet high mud idol and will be campaigning for the cause of ‘Green Ganeshas’ all through the days of the festival,” said Ashok Kumar Kalla of Wings of Fire Society. Traditional sculptors at Simhachalam will be making mud idols for the organisation. “The total cost of the ‘Green Ganesha’ campaign is about Rs 25,000. The idols will have no colours so that it dissolves without any pollution effect,” he added.

Acid content

Apart from taking longer to dissolve in water, the PoP increases the acid content of the water. Also, the chemical paints in the idols have the heavy metal that seeps into the water.