Ganesh Festival, this is the commonly known as ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ and ‘Ganeshotsav’, is the celebrated for a day and a half, 3 days, 5days, 7days or 11 days depending on the family tradition every year mostly in the month of August and September. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great devotion all over India. This is one of the most popular festivals in the India. Lokmanya Tilak has started Ganesh Festival in the year 1893 with a purpose to get together the lot of Indians to fight against the Britishers. One of the other reasons behind this was also to get together of all religion, caste and creed, who had a number of upset and unnecessary issues amongst themselves.

Ganesh Chaturthi Muhurut

Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on the 2nd September 2019 – Monday. Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Muhurut bring to the Vigraha / Idol home is during the Shubh, Labh and Amrit Choghadiya. If you bring Ganpati Idol one day before on the 1 September 2019, Shubh Muhurut is between 11:12 to 13:41.

The Ganesh Idol Staphna on Ganesh Chaturthi day on 2nd September 2019, Time to Avoid Moon Sighting = 09:00 to 21:13 Duration = 12 Hours 13 Mins. Please note this Muhuruts as per panchang of Mumbai, India.

Generally, the Ganesh idols are made out of Plaster of Paris (POP), which is not biodegradable. Even the paint used to toxic and harmful for marine life. And with the great fuss that is made about the global warming, awareness has been created about celebrating this festival in an Eco-friendly way. Let us find out more about the Eco-friendly celebrations of Ganesh Festival.

Now days, trend of Green Ganesha is on the rise means people are conscious of the fact. An eco-friendly Ganesh idol is made out of natural clay. The ingredients of this clay include natural raisin, paper pulp and multani mitti. The colours used for painting these idols are created out of turmeric, flowers, vegetable dyes and other natural non poisonous colours.

How to make an Eco friendly Ganesh Idol at your home?

The paper crush is made out of the books where devotees write down the holy prayers and chants. Regular newspapers can also be used. These papers are then soaked and the water content is removed. The pulp is spread out properly in order to attain uniformity. 250 gm of Gum Arabic and 1.25 liters of water is mixed together in a steel container and is boiled for about 15 minutes. This mixture is stirred throughout with the help of a wooden stick, and then the Gum Arabic is filtered once the mixture is cooled down. 500 gm of paper pulp is mixed in the Gum Arabic, and then 2.25 kg of white ink powder is added to this mixture. This mixture has to be mixed properly until it becomes like dough. The Ganesh mould should be cleaned with water, and then dried. It could either be of fiber or rubber mould. Mixture of oil and soap, and natural shell dust should be applied from within respectively for these moulds. The paper Mache should be rolled out a 1 foot radius, like a chapatti. The rolled paper Mache should be lined inside the mould, and pressed properly so as to create and shape the impressions. This mould should be dried out in sunlight for two days. Slowly, the mould should be opened either from the middle or the face portion. Polish paper should be used for polishing these impressions. Finally, paint the impressions with herbal/natural colours. Remember to handle these idols carefully and tenderly.

The theory of Eco friendly Ganesha has gained huge popularity in the Metropolitan cities like Pune and Mumbai. Today this festival is celebrated without causing harm to the environment.

Benefits of using an Eco-friendly Ganesh idol:

Paper pulp Ganesh idols dissolve in water within a few quick hours. Paper pulp idols can easily be immersed in a bucket at your home. This way water pollution in the seas and rivers will be avoided. Since the use of natural colours is made, the pollution caused due to harmful chemicals is also avoided. Eco-friendly idols are light in weight. So it is easy to carry them. Traditionally, the idol is supposed to be made out of natural clay. Going the Eco-friendly way will help you to keep up with your traditions.

These practices will surely lead to Eco-friendly Ganesha Festival.