Indoreans opt for home-made eco-friendly Ganeshas

The 10-day long Ganesh festival is just around the corner. Indoreans are gearing up to soak-in the spirit of the festival but with a bit of thoughtfulness this year. Having come to the conclusion that the immersion of idols made from POP, toxic materials and chemical paints results in water pollution, the city has vowed to go green and save the river. With a spurt in drives and initiatives on opting for eco-friendly Ganesh idols making rounds, more families in Indore have started making idols at home using shadu mitti.There are others taking the definition of eco-friendly to a new level with tree and fish food Ganesh idols. Indore Times finds out more

Change begins at home
More people have started making Ganesh idols at home. Dr Sonalee Nargunde, a senior faculty at DAVV has been making Ganesh idols from shadu mitti for past three years at home. She shares, “Every year, ahead of Ganeshotsav, I try to urge as many people as I can to make their own eco-friendly idols. The shadu clay is easily available at the stationary shops and the colours could easily be made from turmeric, spinach and beetroot at home. So, it has become more feasible to make these idols.” Nargunde makes an assortment of idols, perfection notwithstanding and gifts them to her friends to spread the message of eco-friendly celebration.
Not only Nargunde, many housing societies are taking out time to make the festival more eco-friendly. Seema Gupta, a resident of Sudama Nagar informs, “Our society has vowed to keep the festival eco-friendly this year. I have a social gathering of women at my place a little ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi and we are making Ganesh idols together. We will also pledge to not play loud music during the celebration at our community Ganesh which we collectively put in in our society.”

Workshops for making different kinds of eco-friendly Ganesh idols are also being conducted in colleges and other institutions. Rupesh Sharma, a sculptor and a faculty at a city college informs that their college has been conducting workshops on making eco-friendly Ganesh for past last three years. “We not only teach our students and faculties to make Ganesh idol from shadu mitti but also help them prepare natural colours to colour them and make them as eco-friendly as possible,” he adds.
God of all things
Sisters Rashmi and Namrata Gupta, an IT professional and an interior designer, respectively, have been making Ganesh idols for past five years. They recently conducted a workshop on making tree Ganesh. Talking about the idea of tree Ganesh idol, Rashmi says, “This year we thought of making an idol using red soil, organic fertilisers and shadu clay mixed with seeds of plants. To finish the look we thought of using natural colours to paint and highlight the features of the idol. Earlier this month, when we finished making our first Tree Ganesh idol we thought of letting more people wake up to the concept and thus organised a workshop.”
Namrata adds, “Now, we have more people joining hands with us and we are making hundred such idols which will be up on sale for `400 each. The idol is supposed to be placed atop a clay pot and watered regularly once the festival is over. Gradually, the seeds inside the idol would begin sprouting. We are experimenting with Tulsi, marigold and petunia seeds as of now.”

The concept is catching on amongst other locals as well who are also experimenting with making idols at home. Pranav Shrivastava, a 23-year-old architect is also making a tree Ganesh idols both for home and office this year. He reveals, “I wanted to make an idol that is born from nature, for nature and by nature and thus thought of making a tree Ganesh. We will be using the soil of our own garden to make the idol. The top soil preferably since its consistency is good and can be moulded easily.” He is also working on another concept of eco-friendly Ganesh idol. “For our office, we are planning on making an idol which is fish-friendly. For this, we are mixing different flours and fish-friendly food like corn, wheat and other vegetable powders with clay to make the idol. Once the idol is immersed in the river, the clay settles and the food can be eaten by the fish.”

A sweet touch
The city’s chocolatiers and bakers are planning to add an extra sweet touch to the festival by making Chocolate Ganesh. Rakshita Mehta, a city-based baker shares, “I am making chocolate Ganesh idol this year, which upon immersion in milk can become a perfect recipe for a milkshake and can later be consumed as prasad. I am using sugar c onfetti and golden sugar to give the idol some final touches.”