Festivals always unite one and all. Ganesh Chaturthi is here. This is the time when beautiful statues of Lord Ganesha travels the street and into homes and institutions where the lord is welcomed and established for several days. The range of days is 1.5 to 10. Goodbye or Visarjan of the idol is an important day as well. Idols made up of Plaster of Paris, when immersed in water, is a reason of damage to environment and hurt to aquatic life. Now-a-days sensitive people are opting for the eco-friendly route. We also can do the same, means this in a greener way; guidelines are as below:
(a). Make an Idol on your Own:
Instead of going for idols made up of plastics, POP, Thermocol etc. bring any other bio-degradable material. Natural products can be unbaked clay from Potter or Pond, Coconut, Natural Colours etc. These are easily soluble in water when immersed. Even ‘Alum’ can also be used, which further helps to cleanse the water. It can be immersed in a small water body at home or under or over tank of houses. Two purposes can be solved at a time.
(b). Decorate Eco-friendly:
Daily fresh flowers can be used. Otherwise, paper or cloth made flowers can be prepared to purchased for ornamentation Avoid plastic in any ways. Be creative.
(c). Serve Prasad:
Serve or distribute ‘Prasadam’ in paper dishes, leaves’ plates or bowls (pattal or dona), or steel vessels. Leaves can be of banana or any other used for making the same.
(d). Do artificial Visarjan:
Immersion of idol can be done in a small tank, not in a huge water body, where other people of groups are doing. That water can be used for irrigating the nearby crop or for drinking purpose. And not all the idols can be eco-friendly. So, don’t immerse in large water body.
By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.
Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.
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