Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi With an Eco Friendly Ganesha Idols

Ganesha festival is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity. The festival is celebrated all over India, as well as in other parts of the world. The festival typically lasts for 10 days, and it is marked by prayers, fasting, and feasting.

Origin and History of Ganesha festival

The Ganesha festival has a long and rich history. It is believed to have originated in the 1st century CE, and it has been celebrated in various forms ever since. The festival became particularly popular during the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), when it was adopted by the royal court.

Environmental impact of Ganesha festival

The Ganesha festival has a significant environmental impact. The use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols is a major source of pollution during the festival. PoP idols are made from a mixture of gypsum and water. When they are immersed in water, they release harmful chemicals into the water bodies. These chemicals can pollute the water and harm aquatic life.

Plaster of Paris (POP) is a hazardous material to the environment. It is made by heating the mineral gypsum to 220°C, baking it into a powder. When POP comes into contact with water, it undergoes a chemical reaction that releases heat (an exothermic reaction) and becomes non-degradable.

In addition, the festival also generates a lot of waste, including flowers, decorations, and food leftovers. This waste can end up in landfills or in waterways, where it can pollute the environment.

Eco-friendly ways to celebrate Ganesha festival

There are many ways to celebrate the Ganesha festival in an eco-friendly way. Here are a few tips:

• Use clay idols instead of PoP idols. Clay idols are biodegradable and do not pollute the water bodies when they are immersed.
• Immerse the idols in designated areas where the water can be filtered and treated before being released back into the environment.
• Plant trees or donate to environmental organizations to offset the carbon footprint of the festival.
• Reduce, reuse, and recycle materials used during the festival.
• Minimize the use of fireworks and firecrackers.

Eco-friendly Ganpati idols are made from 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly materials

The materials used include:

• Shadu Mati Clay Mitti, which dissolves easily in water
• Natural colors that decompose and dissolve in water
• Clay, recycled paper, natural gum, and lead-free water colors
• Seeds of your choice

You can make an eco-friendly Ganpati idol at home in 30 minutes. To make the dough, mix water and clay. Then, cut the dough into different pieces or body parts. Finally, make a ball (torso) and join it with the base.

You can also buy eco-friendly Ganpati idols online. For example, you can buy a Tree Ganesha, also known as Plant Ganesha, which turns into a tree after the visarjan.

By following these simple tips, we can all help to make the Ganesha festival more sustainable and environmentally friendly.