Many citizens opt for household immersion

NASHIK

: Responding to the call by environmentalists and NGOs, many Nashikites resorted to immdersion of Lord Ganesha idols at their household tanks on Thursday.

Those who immersed idols at home said it gave them a feeling that the lord was still there with them.

"We immersed the idol in a plastic drum in our front yard. As it was a clay idol, it got dissolved within hours. We mixed the water and spread its in our garden. Bappa will remain with us in the form of garden's clay and emerge as flowers," said Vishal Chavan, a resident of Govindnagar.

The in-house immersion also proved as an authenticity test of clay idols for many. "This year, I brought the idol of Lord Ganesha from a seller who convinced me that it was made of clay. After immersing the idol at home, I am waiting it to dissolve. I think it will take at least 24 hours to dissolve," said Kartik Gole, an engineering student.

While environmentalists welcomed the in-house immersion initiative taken by the residents, members of some conservative fronts such as

Hindu Janjagruti Samiti

(HJS) condemned the act dubbing it as 'anti-religious'. "It has been proved through scientific research that adding clay in the flowing water causes no pollution to the water body. Still, people are seen immersing idols in tanks, tubs, and buckets which is completely against the religious directives. We need to educate people about it," said

Viraj Gaikwad

, a member of HJS in Nashik.