Keywords: Indian | Festival |
Ganesh Chaturthi | Eco Friendly | Environment | Hazard | Bio degradable
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.
(Click on the above images to
enlarge)
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:
(View Images below, click to
enlarge)
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.
Tell us about your own eco Ganesh
project below - we will help you spread the word!
