IIT teaches to make Ganesha idols to save Powai lake

MUMBAI:Navsrujan Ganesh Mahotsav is a unique event organized by the Save Powai Lake Team to promote eco-friendly celebrations of the Ganesh festival. The team consisting of the students and faculty of IIT Bombay and other Powai residents has been actively involved in conducting public awareness campaigns and drawing the attention of the authorities to the pollution and destruction caused over the years to the Powai Lake.
In an attempt to prevent this practice of polluting the lake and keeping in mind the tradition of the immersion of the Ganesh idols, which originated from the philosophy of surrendering to nature what is taken from it, Navsrujan Ganesh Mahotsav marked its beginning in 2003 with the onset of “create your own Ganpati” workshops for campus residents and children.
It was sponsored by the class of 1980, IIT Bombay, as a part of their heritage project to revive the Powai lake. This being an initiative to preserve the lake and to protect the environment, only natural colors derived from edible gum and geru matti are used to decorate the idols.
This year’s public workshops are being held in IITB campus at the staff club starting September 17.