Ganpati Bappa Morya,
Mangal Murti Morya!
Ganesh Chaturthi is finally here! The festival is celebrated with great zeal all over the country. People start the preparations months in advance. The festival starts off with people buying Ganpati idols and decorating them. They make rangoli at home and play with colours. On the tenth day, an ocean of people come together to celebrate Ganpati Visarjan by immersing idols of Lord Ganesha in the river or ocean and pray that he comes early next year.
The celebrations start today and we’ve decided to do things differently this year: We are going green! The impact of the festival is immense for the environment, but there are small things we can do to make it more eco-friendly. For starters, the Ganpati idols can be replaced with biodegradable material. Did you know that a trust in Bengaluru has made a Ganesh idol using sugarcane promoting an eco-friendly celebration this year? Now that’s what we’re talking about!
In an interview with ANI, a member of this trust said, “We decided to go eco-friendly this time. The colours and Plaster of Paris cause damage to the creatures of the water when immersed in it. After the pooja, the sugarcane used to make the idol will be distributed to the public.”
Karnataka: Bengaluru’s Sri Satya Ganpati trust has made a Ganesha Idol with sugarcane. A member says,”We wanted to do something that is eco-friendly so we chose sugarcane. To make the idol 5 tons of sugarcane were used&150 people are working on it since a month.” #GaneshChaturthi pic.twitter.com/DYPOVPF1rn
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2018
So, let’s take a pledge this year to pamper Lord Ganesha the eco-friendly way. Here are some ways to go about it. Read on!
1. Buy Eco-Friendly Ganesha Idols
Most Ganpati idols are made up of Plaster of Paris (POP) that have a hazardous chemical that pollutes the environment and the water body. Buy Ganesh idols made up of clay because it gets dissolved in water.
POPxo Recommends Handmade Eco-Friendly Lord Ganesha. Buy it here.
Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi Greetings
2. Use Organic Colours For Rangoli
Use organic colours such as turmeric, mehendi, rice powder and henna to make rangoli. These are environment-friendly and do not pose a threat to human health.
POPxo Recommends Junos Natural Organic Color Powder. Buy it here.
3. Refrain From Using Plastic Bags
Ban plastic already, you guys. Dispose of all the leftovers in paper or cloth bags. Prasad too should be distributed in paper plates.
4. Use Eco-Friendly Decoration
Decoration made up of plastic and non-biodegradable materials harm the environment. Try to decorate the idol with natural flowers or paper materials.
5. Say No To Noise Pollution
Playing music on loudspeakers can affect the human ear badly, especially above the permissible decibel level. So this time around, play your Bollywood-approved Ganesha playlist on a low volume.
Also Read: Ganapati Decoration At Home
6. Conserve Electricity
Switch on the lights only in the evening during the pooja. Conserve and save energy. After all, energy saved is energy produced.
7. Buy A Small-Sized Idol Of Lord Ganesha
Large-sized idols require more place and water to immerse. Buy smaller ones so that you save water.
8. Immerse The Ganpati Idol In A Bucket At Home
Immersion of the idol in the river or the ocean pollutes a natural resource that is responsible for the habitat of marine animals. The villages around it use this same water for irrigation, so they get affected too. You can immerse the Ganpati idol in a bucket at home to complete the festivities.
Also Read: Simple Rangoli Design For Ganesh Chaturthi
9. Limit The Number Of Public Pandals
Too many pandals end up crowding the streets and dirtying them too. People dispose of the waste on the roads. So if you’re a part of the association planning this, limit the number of pandals and ensure that there are proper disposal systems in place. If you’re going pandal hopping, make sure you don’t litter on the streets. Either dump it in the bin or carry it with you back home.
POPxo Recommends this Gratitude tote to tell the Lord you’re grateful for his blessings; plus, it’ll fit everything you need for pandal hopping. Buy it here.
10. Make A Compost Of Biodegradable Festival Leftovers
You can make a compost out of the flower offerings and garlands and other organic material and use it as a fertiliser in your garden. Also, dried flowers can be used later to make decorative items.
Image Source: YouTube and Shutterstock
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