In the vibrant city of Mumbai, preparations for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival are in full swing, focusing on crafting Lord Ganesha’s eco-friendly paper idols. Standing tall at approximately 18 feet, these innovative idols are a testament to the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability by avoiding Plaster of Paris (POP) idols.
Sculptors in Mumbai have passionately taken up the task of creating these eco-conscious idols, driven by the objective of promoting a more eco-friendly celebration of the beloved festival. Sanket, the President of the Elphinstone Ganesha festival organizing committee, shared insights into this remarkable endeavor.
However, in the last two years, they’ve embarked on the unique journey of crafting these 18 to 19-foot eco-friendly paper idols, a concept initially introduced by the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Chaturthi festival organizers.
To create these impressive paper idols, a substantial quantity of paper—approximately 200 to 250 kilograms—is employed, and the entire process takes about three months of meticulous work. Sanket elaborated on the motivations behind this eco-friendly shift, noting that discussions about banning POP idols have been ongoing for three to four years.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, commemorates the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav, the festival involves the installation of Ganesha’s clay idols in homes and elaborate pandals, or temporary stages, both privately and publicly.
The ten-day festival culminates in a grand procession accompanied by music and group chanting, concluding with the idol’s immersion, known as visarjan, in a nearby body of water, such as a river or sea, on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.
Ganesh Chaturthi venerates Ganesha as the God of New Beginnings, the Remover of Obstacles, and the deity of wisdom and intelligence. This year, the festival commences on September 19 and will extend for ten joyous days, culminating on September 29. The eco-friendly paper idols symbolize Mumbai’s dedication to embracing traditions while adopting sustainable practices to protect the environment.
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