Happy Ganesh Chaturthi: Hyderabadis try eco-friendly idols to blend belief and nature for posterity

Hyderabad: Even the incessant rains could not dampen the enthusiasm and religious fervor that accompanies Ganesh Chaturthi this year. But this time most people are switching over to environmentally friendly and smaller idols. Schools, art classes, temples, shops, online vendors, Instagram Influencers, residential colonies, and employers all have a big role to play in this change for the better.

Free Distribution

“We have distributed more than 500 free clay Ganeshas in my past company Capgemini on the main campus. This initiative continues,” says Shashi Dhar Makana, senior leader in IT consulting in Hyderabad

Sales for good Causes

Many clay Ganeshas are sold so that the profits can be given to NGOs, to educate children, supply old age homes and benefit poor farmers.

Madhurima Chadalavada, CMD of the very popular Southern Chillies Restaurant in Yapral informs us, “I was a member of Rotary Club East and they have a practice of selling eco-friendly Ganesh idols to all members and their friends, the profits will be used for good causes such as books for children and Sanitary kits for girls’ hostels. Personally, since the year 2008, we have been using the same eco-friendly Ganesh at home and this same practice has been implemented at my Southern Chillies Restaurant from day one and will continue like this forever. We also have influenced our friends and the next generation of our family.

Innovation

Organic stores innovate each year. Some Ganeshas even have seeds in them which come up as plants in the garden once they are immersed in a tub of water this is poured into the garden.

Madhuri Polisetty of Easwaripuri Colony says, “I have been using Haldi Ganeshas and eco-friendly Ganeshas for the past few years. I have been immersing the Ganesha in a flower pot and even grew methi leaves in it. I have also distributed eco-friendly Ganeshas in my neighborhood and helped sell them on behalf of a vendor.”

Home Immersion

More and more people are going back to the old practice of immersing Ganeshas at home in a bucket or tub of water. Lakes are dirty, crowded, and noisy; the size of Ganeshas brought to households is reducing, so it makes more sense to immerse at home, even if you do live in a small apartment. You can always water your tulsi plants on the balcony with the blessings of Ganesha.

Merchant Navy Captain Sainath Rao, a resident of Old Bowenpally says, “We always get clay Ganesh. On the day of immersion, our clay idol is put in a tub. Once it dissolves, we then put this in our garden.”

Fond Memories

Madhavi Murthy of Secunderabad has fond memories of her late father Major General Ananta Bhanu Gorthi installing clay Ganesha just for a day, performing the full pooja, and then doing the visarjan in a bucket of water which was then poured into his mango trees.

Vijaya Naidu says, “My parents would get a fresh wet impression of Lord Ganesha onto a tray alongside his favorite wood apple, corn, cucumber, custard apples, and a dish of Poha on the very first day. At the entrance, we need to wash the feet of the members of the household who brought the Lord home from the vendor welcome the Lord, and perform the pooja by reading the story of how He was born and why we do not see the moon on that night. The next day we immersed the idol in a bucket of water to dissolve and nourish our plants with that water.

Adwait Kher proudly says, “Our house-help’s daughter who is incidentally an electronic engineer made a very aesthetic Murti out of a ball of mud from our very own garden.”

Influencers

Nitya Naresh, who is a Creative artist, is an Influencer who lives in Defence Colony and has recently conducted two workshops on making Ganesh idols from clay. She advocates immersion at home as her family has been following this practice for years. She will be going to schools to do the same with young preschool children.

Hamsini Murthy of Sainikpuri says that her family has been making Ganesha out of Turmeric and Rice Flour with a little ghee to shape the idol. After the evening aarti and pooja, the family immerses the idol and flowers used to decorate it, in a bucket of water. Once the idol dissolves in the water, this is used to water our plants. She has even made a YouTube video called ‘Gardening with Ganesha’ for her Grade 4 students to follow.

Manognya Reddy who takes a special interest in keeping Kapra Lake clean says, “I have been getting only clay Ganeshas and immersing in clean water at home for many years now. I also bring clay Ganesha for my maid’s family who lives in our annex. GHMC supplies to our Society and a few temples also distribute these in our locality. Each one of us has to think in the current context. For example, we moved from clay idols to PoP idols and now back to eco-friendly idols. The main point to think about is how can I make this better?’ It helps if we do not buy non-degradable decorations for the idol. For example, there is no need for a shiny synthetic chatri for the Ganesh. Home immersion is a must so as not to pollute lakes. I try to spread the word and even if one person will be convinced to make a change, it will be better for the environment.”