Ganesha Idols are made with red soil, organic fertilisers and shadu clay filled seeds of plants. (Source: Tree Ganesha/ Facebook) Ganesha Idols are made with red soil, organic fertilisers and shadu clay filled seeds of plants. (Source: Tree Ganesha/ Facebook)

Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner and people are excited to celebrate the festival in the grandest way possible. From elaborate decorations to huge idols, the festivity is here to spur the adrenaline. But any celebration must be accompanied by responsibilities.

We know that for many years now, people have been trying to reduce the adversity caused to the environment during such celebratory times. The idols build for the festivals are part of a bigger menace as the toxic materials and paints cause high water pollution due to immersion.

Concerned by this rising pollution a Mumbai resident has adopted a unique eco-friendly measure to celebrate the festival responsibly. Dattadri Kothur, a 30-year-old art director by profession, artist from Lower Parel has developed a process to make Ganesh idol that would grow into plants once the festival is over. ”The idol, called Tree-Ganesha, will not only cut down on water pollution, but also help increase the green cover of the city as it will grow into a tree,” Kothur says in a Times of India report.

Artist uses natural colours to finish the idols. (Source: Tree Ganesha website) Artist uses natural colours to finish the idols. (Source: Tree Ganesha website)

According to reports, Dattadri Kothur started his initiative of making these go-green idols last year with red soil, organic fertilisers and shadu clay filled seeds of plants. The idols are set atop clay pots with a base of soil. Once the festival is over, instead of immersion, these idols can be watered, which would lead the clay idols to melt over a span of few days and eventually the seeds inside them would begin sprouting.

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According to a recent video, produced by the Quint, in collaboration with Bollywood actress and environmental activist Dia Mirza, Mirza can be seen learning to make the idol herself to promote the eco-friendly cause. “I wanted to make a Ganesha that can go back to nature, so that one can enjoy the celebrations along with being eco-friendly.”

“Everyone strives to make God happy. Nobody thinks about the environment,” Kothur adds in the video.

Kothur currently along with a team of seven to eight artists have been reeling under the pressure of too many orders. The team has been able to make about 500 Ganapati idols, while they have received whopping orders for 4,000 idols.

Watch video here

So, if you want to try this innovative technique you can follow Dia Mirza’s demonstration and build your own green Tree-Ganesha this season.

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