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Eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi Ideas

by Vidya Sury September 9, 2017 12 comments
Ecofriendly ganesha immersion Vidya Sury

We celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi. (Visit the link for the story of Ganesha).

As usual, the deity who says no entry for obstacles has brought with him a deluge of rains, which is no surprise as we are also in the middle of monsoons.

During my childhood, Ganesh Chaturthi was awaited with joy by the whole family. It was the harbinger of the festival season, which is practically the rest of the year. Although, in all fairness, it is Krishna Jayanthi or Gokulashtami that is the real starting point for the festival season.

The wonderful thing about our festivals is how they are all marked by the delicious dishes unique to each one of them. The best thing is, every region has its own particular suite of recipes for the festival–so if you live in a friendly neighborhood, chances are pretty good that your table will show a happy variety of mouth-watering food.

 Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

As South Indians, we have our own specific set of preparations including different types of modaks in various shapes, sesame laddus, the omnipresent vadas and a large variety of fruits displayed around the decorated altar.

I’ve often wondered why Ganesha is so endearingly chubby when he loved fruits and seems to have eaten healthy, but that’s a thought for another day.

One of the highlights of Ganesh Chaturthi in our house was making the idol. I have been doing this since I was five years old. At least two days before G-day, I would scout around for the best clay and stash it away in the garden.

Bright and early on Chaturthi, I’d bathe and after helping out with odd jobs in the kitchen and around the house, settle down to making the Ganesha for the puja. I feel so sentimental even as I write this–my folks were so encouraging and waited eagerly to see what I would come up with. If only we had had a camera back then! Sigh.

So, I would make the “murti” and place it on a large brass tray with ample space around the deity for arranging the fruits, etc.

 Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Over the years, as I grew up, I became more innovative. I’ve made Ganeshas with clay, and roti dough.

Once my son came along, of course he had to make his own and we would give him the roti dough to play with. I still remember the rather cute idol he made with his play doh! We have even attempted the five headed Ganesha together.

Coming back to the non-toxic, eco-friendly Ganesha, I would drape a little dhoti around the idol, then add the sacred thread. For the eyes, I used grains and for the tusk, grains of rice. I have to admit that as I made the Ganesha, I would sort of fall in love with it.

After the festivities were over, came the saddest part of this festival, for me.

Immersion.

I still remember bawling my eyes out when we had to bid the deity goodbye and watch him disappear into the water. Oh, I know there is a good story behind it–but still.

 Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

In the name of religion, we all know that we are essentially polluting our lakes and seas with the avalanche of idols made from all kinds of materials. I am just not in favor of Ganeshas made of ghee and sweets and other stuff that poisons the water.

And then, once the idols are dumped in the waters, we see mutilated idols and body parts strewn all over the place. So tragic! I am pretty sure he never intended it that way.

I once accompanied a family friend, who was a photographer, to Chowpatty beach, with the procession on immersion day. I’ll never forget how intimidated I was to see the huge statues being steered out to sea. It felt quite nightmarish. I was in the sixth grade.

Wasn’t’ there a better way?

Of course, yes. Several, in fact.

Here are some ideas for an eco-friendly versions and thereby, ecofriendly immersion of our beloved Ganesha.

Eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi

  • Make your own Ganesha from clay. Or other bio-degradeable material such as dough made from flour, or cow dung. Hey, it’s not so bad! Remember to add some seeds to the mix.

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Take it to the next level by including some seeds/grains mixed in the clay. You’ll understand why as you read on.

  • Place your Ganesha in your tulsi pot or any other pot. Immerse!
  • If you have a garden, great. Place the Ganesha in a tub of water, and after he dissolves, water the garden with the contents of the tub.
  • If there is a well in your area, gently lower the eco-friendly Ganesha into the well after removing all the embellishments.
  • If you included seeds in your raw material, and chose to immerse your Ganesha in your garden, water it every day, and look forward to a pleasant surprise as you see them sprout! Yay, eh?
  • One Christmas, we got a chocolate Christmas tree. Most enjoyable. Why not a chocolate Ganesha? Bake a chocolate Ganesha, then celebrate the immersion in milk. There, you have delicious prasadam to share with loved ones.

See what Rintu did with her chocolate Ganesha

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

  • In our family, for every puja, regardless of how grand the idol is, the little cone made from turmeric and placed in front of the deity is the one that is actually worshipped. We  immerse the turmeric cone representing the Ganesha in a potted plant. We also decorate the pot to jazz it up!
  • Carve the Ganesha out of a large vegetable or fruit. Or just use a variety to put the idol together.

Look at this Brinjal ganesha!

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Or this: (Grains ganesha)

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

  • My son came up with a brilliant idea– draw the Ganesha on a slate and immerse in a tub. I thought that was pretty smart. Yes, we did that too. (Yes I sketched this one!)

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Prefer a colorful one? Use water color on any surface, and immerse.

  • How about a papier mache idol? Easy to make. Also easily bio-degradeable when immersed.

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Then, experiment with flowers and leaves.

 Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Just make sure that you don’t abandon your Ganesha in a spot where it clearly says you are not to do it. The last thing you want is an unhappy Ganesha, right?

Remember, size does not matter when it comes to devotion. Keep it small.

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

I remember we made a trough in our garden and filled it with water, to immerse the Ganesha. So enjoyable. And he was right there with us, yet merged with the soil doing good things, just as it was intended.

We must remember that festivals are all about family and friends getting together and having a good time. Why pollute our environment in the process? I can assure you that Ganesha will understand.

And if you find Ganesha simply choosing to arrive in your home like this…rejoice!  Talk about nature conspiring to make it eco-friendly. You only have to notice! The following veggie Ganeshas are from here.

Sweet potato – diabetes-friendly!

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

An apple a day!

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Capsicum

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Jackfruit

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

Tomato

Eco-friendly ganesh chaturthi immersion Vidya Sury

I’ve not even touched the tip of the eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi idea iceberg here!

I would love to hear yours! ♥

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

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12 comments

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12 comments

vanita cyril September 9, 2017 at 11:51 pm

i think eating him would be too traumatizing for me. i would cry while i enjoy it which would make me cry more. this is definitely a sweet post but i think i like the one made of grains best.

Reply
Vidya Sury September 10, 2017 at 6:11 pm

I can imagine! Hehehe! But the person I referred to in the post: dissolved the Ganesha in milk and distributed it to needy kids. Hugs!

Reply
Ila Varma September 9, 2017 at 11:58 pm

Awesome ideas…

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Asha September 10, 2017 at 6:37 pm

Awesome ideas Vidya ! Really eco friendly. And I loved your sketch !

Reply
Vidya Sury September 11, 2017 at 5:00 pm

Thank you so much Asha! (thank you for noticing!) Hugs!

Reply
Renu Jinturkar September 11, 2017 at 11:17 pm

Brilliant!. The chocolate Ganesha celebration idea literally blew me away! I also red that you made Ganesha out of roti dough. How did you do the immersion? And how did you dispose the flour? I would love to try it next year.

Reply
Vishal Bheeroo September 25, 2017 at 5:43 pm

Vidya it’s the most amazing post I have read on eco-friendly Ganpati and it’s a form of worship that we can craft in various forms. I love the various ideas from chocolates to grain or paper mache and slate. A small step is needed to change our attitudes.

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Vidya Sury September 25, 2017 at 5:52 pm

Thank you, Vishal! Nice way to make the festival fun and eco-friendly no? I appreciate your support.
Vidya Sury recently posted…Of books, bookshelves and nostalgic memories

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Azlin Bloor September 15, 2018 at 12:04 am

Oh my goodness, I just love he versatility of all these manifestation. And the fact that they are so eco friendly! A really wonderful read, Vidya.

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Sandeep Kumar August 28, 2019 at 11:42 pm

I Just Loved the Collection of Lord Ganesha Pictures..
Sandeep Kumar recently posted…हमराज़ आर्मी एप्प फ्री डाउनलोड कैसे करे – 2019

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Soniya Dutta June 17, 2021 at 7:25 am

Oh my goodness, I just love he versatility of all these manifestation. And the fact that they are so eco friendly! A really wonderful read, Vidya.
Soniya Dutta recently posted…You Can Get an Instant Digital Policy While Buying Auto Insurance on Amazon Pay

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Pihunow May 13, 2023 at 4:24 pm

यह पोस्ट सबसे अलग और बेस्ट हैं

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