Enjoy a safe Ganesh Chaturthi without harming
the environment.
The Joshi's from suburban Mumbai celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with
gusto. Every year, there is a flurry of activity in their house at
this time of the year. Elaborate preparations are made for the daily
pujas, which are attended by their friends, relatives, and
neighbours. On the final day, the idol is carried in a grand
procession to the nearby beach. There it is symbolically held for a
while under the lashing waves of the sea, before being carried back
home and reverentially re-installed on the family's puja altar.
Brought back home? Yes. Earlier the Joshi's celebrated Ganesh
Chaturthi traditionally, by bringing home a new Ganpati idol each
year. On the last day, the idol was immersed into the sea to allow
it to dissolve. That is, until they read a newspaper report on the
environmental damage caused by large-scale immersions. Now, instead
of buying a new idol each year, they simply use a brass Ganesh idol.
Every year, they carry this to the sea for a symbolic immersion.
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon
according to the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. Devout Hindus eagerly
await the onset of this auspicious time for the popular
elephant-headed god, Ganesh, to grace their homes. The festival is a
great unifier, as it brings together not only Hindus, but also
members of other religious communities. The celebrations reach a
climax with the immersion of the idol in a body of water. The
immersion and dissolution of the idol in water represents the cycle
of creation and dissolution in Nature.
The Problem
Traditionally, clay was used to make Ganesh idols. Over the years
however, plaster of Paris (POP), which is lighter and cheaper, has
become the favoured material to mould these idols. POP contains
chemicals such as gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus, and magnesium. The
dyes used to colour these idols contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic,
lead, and carbon. Plastic and thermocol accessories are used to
decorate these idols. Such materials are not biodegradable, hence
are toxic. Also, while earlier the idols were quite small, today a
spirit of competitiveness pervades the celebrations, so that the
idols are becoming increasingly colossal. The immersion of idols
made from non-biodegradable or toxic materials has the following
environmental repercussions:
With the immersion of these idols in the sea or inland water bodies
such as lakes and streams, the chemicals in these idols dissolve in
the water. POP dissolves slowly, gradually releasing its harmful
components. The water experiences a rise in acidity as well as
traces of heavy metal. The toxic waste kills plant and animal life
in the water. In Mumbai, for instance, dead fish washed ashore after
the immersion is a common occurrence.
Plastic and thermocol waste, including polythene bags containing
offerings, is usually immersed with the idols. Because it is
non-biodegradable—meaning that it does not decompose—this waste
simply keeps adding up. It also obstructs the flow of streams,
leading to flooding during the rains. Running water, when
obstructed, turns stagnant. This can become a breeding ground for
diseases and is a major health hazard for a locality.
People who use water polluted by these immersions experience a host
of health problems such as infections of the lungs, and diseases of
the skin, blood, and eyes.
The Solution
There are ways to reduce the environmental damage from Ganpati
celebrations:
Avoid the use of idols made from POP. Always go for those made of
unbaked natural clay, natural fibre, or even recycled paper. Ensure
that the dyes used to colour the idols are organic or vegetable in
origin. Some years ago, natural clay idols were not always easy to
get and had to be specially ordered. Today, however, many volunteer
organisations make and sell these environmentally safe idols and
encourage people to use them.
The above idols are 15" and 18" resp and are priced for Mumbai & Pune between INR 1600 to INR 3000. If you'd like more information on environment friendly Ganesha's, kindly use the Contact Me information page or use the form below.
How are clay idols made?
Clay idols are beautiful but require you to be more careful.
The other solution is to buy Ganesha idols made of Paper-Mache for the
Festival
How are Paper Mache idols made?
Do not use thermocol or plastic as decorations or accessories for your Ganpati idol. Instead, use cloth, wood, paper, and other natural materials that are safer when immersed in water.
If there is an artificial tank in your area specifically created for immersion purposes, use this instead of a natural source of water such as a lake or a stream.
Collect offerings of flowers and other organic material and put them in a compost pit. These can be used to fertilize your garden. If you must immerse them, wrap them in newspapers instead of polythene bags.
Song and dance are an integral part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. However, ear-splitting decibels are not just disturbing, but a major health hazard. Moderation is the key to a safe and enjoyable Ganesh Chaturthi.
GaneshChaturthi.com Team would like to credit Green Ganesha Information Courtesy and above Image + Video Copyright to E-coexist (Ms. Manisha).
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