काही आवडीचे: eco-friendly idols

A green Ganesha that is cheaper

Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu followers make eco-friendly idols

SIDDHARTH GADKARI --- Timesofindia madhe alele artical

    It’s happened to most of us. We were concerned about the effect the Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idol had on the environment and wanted to opt for an eco-friendly version of the idol, but changed our minds because we’d think that it was too expensive. Well, all that is about to change. This reporter found out that this year, it is probably cheaper to get your hands on an eco-friendly Ganesh idol. Paper, chalk powder, arrowroot and mould – these are the basic ingredients being used to make eco-friendly Ganesh idols. The price of these idols are 40 per cent less than the ones made out of plastic of paris, shaddu or pure clay. They are also 50 per cent lighter than their ecology-damaging counterparts. What’s better is that these eco-friendly idols dissolve in water within two hours unlike the PoP ones that get washed back onto the river banks after visarjan.
    These green idols are being made in Narayan Peth near Dasbhusja Ganpati Mandir. More than 50 followers of Sadguru Shri Anuruddha Bapu are of putting finishing touches on 500 eco-friendly idols. They have dispatched 500 idols to different cities. Sadguru Shri Aniruddh Upsana Kendra started making Ganesh idols in 2004. This year, they entered the market to promote social responsibility towards the environment and to provide affordable idols to people interested in buying eco-friendly idols.
    Sadguru Shri Anruddh Upsana Kendra’s experiment in 2004 started with the idols being made mainly for its followers. However, this year, the Kendra decided to sell green idols to the public. Pravinsinh Wagh, a follower of Bapu, said, “For the last six years, 50 followers have been making eco-friendly idols. We use paper from stacks of books in our possession that have been used to write ‘Ram Naam’ by devotees. A kendra collects more than a lakh books within a month. We use these papers, glue and eco-friendly colours provided to us by Pidilite. A person can make an idol, complete with colouring within five hours. All the 50 followers who craft these green idols devote one to two hours of their time after they are done with their regular jobs.”
    Talking about the virtues of these green idols, he adds, “Our idols dissolve in water within two hours, while other idols made of PoP do not dissolve in water. Our idols are also priced modestly – Rs 250 to 450. The height of these idols range from one to four feet and weigh between one and 2.5 kg respectively. PoP idols of same height weigh between 1.5 and 3.5 kg.”
    To spread awareness about the merits of installing an eco-friendly Ganesh idol this Ganeshotsav, the group is also giving demonstrations of how they make the idols in schools and other institutions. “If anyone wants to explore this idea for commercial purposes, they can. However, we are followers of Bapu, so we are restricted from commercialisation.”
    Ashwini Barawkar, a Ganesh devotee from Sukhsagar Nagar in Katraj, said, “I have been buying and installing PoP idols for many years now, but this year onwards, I have decided to buy ecofriendly idols and care for the environment. As these idols dissolve in water without harming ecology, I came here to purchase one this year.”
    So, what do you say? Are you ready to make an eco-friendly Shri Ganesha this year.
WHY GO GREEN THIS YEAR
    In Maharashtra, more than one crore people celebrate the Ganesh festival at home. every year, about 10,000 tonnes of PoP are released into the rivers
WHAT POP DOES TO OUR WATER It increases the acidic nature of water The amount of iron increases by 10 per cent and copper increases by 200 to 300 per cent Due to artificial colour, the per cent of oxygen decreases It causes many fish and flora to die If we drink this water, it increases the chances diseases related to skin, eyes and the digestive system
WHY POP IS HARMFUL
    POP contains sulphur, phosphorus, magnesium.
    Artificial colours used to decorate the idol contain cadmium and sodium tricholorophinate
    POP does not dissolve in water and so it the natural flow of water
    ( Source- Central Pollution Control board )
MAKING AN ECO-FRIENDLY GANESHA
    Take waste paper and cut it into small strips. Soak these strips in water for two days. This will cause the paper to become pulp. Add some chalk powder to the pulp to help it bind better and make a dough. Then, take a mould, spread some oil on it’s inner surface and put some pulp into it. Stand the mould for two hours, or about a day, (depending on the weather) and allow it to dry. Once the pulp has completely dried, carefully remove the idol from the mould. Make the hands of the idol in the similar manner and use water to paste it to the idol. Next, colour the idol. It does not break easily.