Sustainable approaches to celebrate this Ganpati season!

On the holy and auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, a festive 10-day period that is characterized by dance, music, prayers, colours, Modaks, and mesmerizing decoration; Bappa is welcomed and accorded with hospitality across India. 

In a remarkable display of creativity and devotion, a housewife from Nadiad has fashioned an exquisite idol of Ganpati, affectionately calling it  ‘Bappa from Chapa.’  What makes this idol unique is that it is entirely made from scrap paper. Yes, you read that right.

The lady meticulously crafted the entire idol using tightly rolled newspaper balls and the result? A stunning 1.5-foot Ganpati idol, an embodiment of artistic ingenuity and devotion.

The process of creating this unique paper idol was not just an artistic endeavor but also a spiritual one, as now Bappa has found a new home within the household and is not just a piece of art but a focal point of worship for five consecutive days. 

With the ever increasing need for moving towards an eco-friendly approach to all festivals, the idea of making paper Ganesh idols is not novel, as several artists have turned towards environment-friendly practices where immersing these idols in water bodies would cause no significant harm to the environment, during Visarjan.

Why is immersing Ganpati idols harmful for the environment?

To begin with, Ganpati idols are made from two kinds of materials; there is Clay idols on the one hand- a lot more expensive and way safer for the environment, and idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP) that is available at reasonable prices but at a heavy cost of environment damage (the paradox must be noted here). 

Now, on the occasion of Ganpati Visarjan, more than thousands of Ganpati idols are immersed into the water bodies across India, bidding adieu to Bappa as per the ritual. However, the immense harm caused to these water bodies and a threat to marine life goes ignored amid the celebration. 

There are severely adverse effects of idol immersion on water bodies, from the environmental perspective, and this year too, it’s not going to be any different. Why? Lack of awareness.  Here’s the breakdown of how idol immersion harms the environment:

Ganpati idols are, as mentioned previously, made of Plaster of Paris (POP), plastic and cement, which are then decorated beautifully with paints, flowers and other decorative items. These paints contain toxic materials in them, along with other decorative items made from non-biodegradable materials. Upon immersion of the idols, these toxic paints containing metals such as lead and mercury, seep into the water body, adding high levels of acid to the water that causes harm to marine life and may lead to skin diseases in humans.

Furthermore, heavy decoration of these idols, which often consists of metal jewelry, flowers and the like, all end up as waste in the water bodies, which are often non-biodegradable and when mixed with water, polluting agents present within them damage the water body.

Paper Ganesh-making and other Eco-friendly approaches

What can one do to be more mindful of the environment while also enjoying the joyous occasion:

1. The first thing one could do is to select non-polluting and biodegradable alternatives when selecting Ganpati idols

An idea that was also endorsed by PM Modi, in a bid to prevent water pollution, he suggested doing away with single use plastics so that these contaminating materials do not touch the water bodies. 

A large number of artisans are taking up the art of making Ganpati idols using waste paper, organic glue and clay. With a three-fold purpose that of: light-weight, environment-friendly and sustainable, artists opted for processing waste paper from the local Pastiwallahs to create mesmerizing Ganpati idols. 

How is the art of paper Ganesh-making carried out?

The process starts with obtaining newspapers from local Pastiwallahs and scrap recyclers. The paper is then torn into bits and mixed with clay to create the dough. The dough is then molded to form the shape of Ganeshji, following which a layer of recycled paper is draped over it using organic glue, which then binds all materials, to make the sculpture stronger. 

The sculpture is now coated with non-toxic paint.  These paper Ganesh idols come in different sizes, from 1 to 3 feet tall, and they cost between Rs 2,100 to Rs 20,000. People even buy them from other countries because they are seen as art. Even though these idols are made of paper, they are strong and can last a long time. When you put them in water for immersion, they don’t leave any harmful residue like the ones made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). They dissolve in water in about 5-6 hours, leaving only paper pulp, which is easy to clean up. These idols are even being exported to other countries, as today art is heavily commercialized than appreciated.

2. Setting up alternative tanks for immersion of idols, else opting for other similar alternatives such as building ponds specially made for immersion, as a way to reduce water pollution

Let’s Pledge to make this Ganpati season rather memorable by having fun but also being mindful of the environment!