Celebrations go green: Demand for eco-friendly Ganesh idols in city surges

Prayagraj: The demand for eco-friendly Ganesh idols in the city has seen a significant surge this Ganesh Chaturthi set to be celebrated from Sept 7 to 17. Idol makers have been working diligently to meet the increasing demand for idols of various sizes and shapes, indicating a growing awareness towards an environmentally friendly celebration.On Friday, devotees visited idol makers and sellers in various parts of the city like Colonelganj, Chowk, and Katra, to purchase idols of Lord Ganesha. According to the idol makers, "In the past couple of years, the city has witnessed a remarkable shift towards green choices, and the use of eco-friendly idols by community puja pandals, organisations, and educational institutes where Ganesh pujas were celebrated with full pomp and show."Raju, a seller at Colonelganj, said: "Eco-friendly idols are selling like hot cakes ahead of the festival. It is a welcoming trend when the majority of people prefer eco-friendly idols of deities on the occasion of festivals."Previously, the use of plaster of Paris (PoP) idols was widespread, which was harmful to the environment due to its non-biodegradable nature and caused pollution in water bodies after immersion. Now, idol makers have put in tremendous effort to create eco-friendly idols using soil from the Ganga, with artisans from West Bengal, Mirzapur, Varanasi, and other cities contributing to the process. The ornaments on these idols are also made of soil and painted with natural colours.Furthermore, puja organisers have requested innovative and unique design idols. The eco-friendly idols are usually made from materials such as clay and natural fibers, which make them easily biodegradable and less damaging to aquatic ecosystems when immersed in water bodies.