Ganesha is the lord of power and wisdom. He is worshipped first before any auspicious work. Kids know him better since he is also referred to as the ‘Elephant God’. Now, the Ganesha Chaturthi is just round the corner and here is my attempt to spread the awareness on ‘Going Green‘ about the way we celebrate this festival. What do I mean by Project Green Ganesha? Read further to know what it is and how you can help.
Majority of the people who celebrate Ganesha festival bring home the ‘painted‘ idols made of clay or plaster of paris (PoP) and perform rituals with devotion. The festival concludes with ‘Ganesh Visarjan’, a process of immersing the idol in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual to see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in ‘Kailash’ while taking away with him the misfortunes of his devotees. Unfortunately not all cities are blessed with a river/sea in the proximity. Because of this, various ponds, lakes and other water sources are used to see-off the god. Since the paint material used to color the idol contains ‘Lead’, this is toxic in nature. PoP too gets dissolved slowly and increases the acidity of water and thus water is polluted when the idol is immersed. This adversely affects the environment and there have been reports of dead fish in the water source where the idols are immersed.
Now that we have understood the problem, solution is pretty simple. Go for Ganesha idols made of natural clay which are not painted. This will not only be environmental friendly but saves our ecosystem as well. I know the next question. But where do we get such Eco-friendly Ganeshas? Well, this is where I need your help. I am compiling a list of places/vendors where one can buy eco-friendly Ganesha idols. Since I am from Bangalore, I am publishing the details here. It would be great if you could come up with an article having details of the places for your city. I will link up your article from my blog and thus we can form a network of blogs to make this Ganesha Festival environmental friendly.
I am starting with the data I have as of now for Bangalore.
- Pathanjali Yoga Shikshana Samithi, Mathikere
- Vivekananda Yoga Shikshana Samithi, Indiranagar
- Dharma Pratishthana, Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi
- Chamarajpet – Vijayalakshmi S, Ph : 9241715008 and Chetan K.S, Ph : 9901303390
- 17th Cross, Malleswaram, Ph: 080 23567470 – Kamalini
- Srinivasnagar, Banshankari I Stage, Ph: 9886748371
- Anjaneya temple road, Gandhi bazaar, Ph : 9342303247 Mr. Seshadri
- Geleyara Balaga, Bidadi, Ph : 9880990014 – RaviKumar
Feel free to ping me details of any other places in the form of comments, I will update this post with your valuable information. Not just that, there are many more road side vendors all over Bangalore who sell eco friendly Ganesha idols. Do insist on buying and celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with only those idols made of natural clay without any colors. Let us spread the awareness and make this ‘Project Green Ganesha’ a great success.
Megha B Amin says
This year we want (mud)green Ganesh but in Bombay style where can I get this
Nidhi says
Can u plz hlo me whr can i gt eco friendly ganesh idol abt 3-4 feet in chennai
Reena Ahirwar says
Sir,
This year i want Lord Ganesha to arrive @ my home so can you please tell me where i can find Eco friendly Ganesha idols near Whitefield.
Gurumurthachar says
We manufacturing Eco friendly ganesha idols in Bangalore..
kiran says
Sir , we are new startup where we are promoting Pure Clay ganesh and also we have introduced a concept where the Ganesha shall turn into a Plant after the Visarjan, by placing the seeds in the Ganesha. below are the contact details
http://www.ecoganeshonline.com
ecoganeshonline@gmail.com
7676765679
PSN Ganesh Utsav says
Dear Mr Mohan & All freinds,
Its a great initiative and we would like to celebrate 2016 ganesh utsav with eco friendly ganesha idol.
Can you please connect us to artists/venodrs who can make 4-5 feet high ganesha idols. (from bangalore or nearby places)
preferably the artists who can make ganesha idols out of flowers/sweets etc.
Your help will be deeply appreciated
Vijay says
I want mud ganesha idol of 6-7 ft height
shwetha says
Hi.. Any idea where do we get eco friendly ganesha in Davangere
Naveen says
Hi
We do Eco Friendly Ganesha
We are located at New Pottery Town,
for information please call
9845639583
9972222920
exclusivelane says
It is believed that the installation of Ganesha statue in your home brings fame and fortune. Buy the hand painted ganesha online to add to the spiritual atmosphere at your home.
Mohan says
Yes, i have heard that too! Thanks for sharing your views.
sangeetha says
Hi…Could you please let me know where we get “Iliappa” idol in bangalore. Its Ganapathi’s vehicle “Mooshika idol” which they will make just like ganapathi idol (big size of atleast 10 inch). As our family custom , we keep Iliappa on ganapathy festival instead of ganapathy idol. We normally get it in Davangere. I am searching where do we get similar idols in bangalore. It would be of great help if someone can give the location or address where we get it.
Dr. Nischitha Naik says
hello sir
good to hear abt the eco friendly ganesha. i am a pedodontist from mangalore. v r having a conference in nov and one of the theme of this conference is work green. so all the delegates will be given one sapling each to plant and tat wil be maintained in the col garden.would like to know if i could get a green ganesha idol , in this way lot of people would become aware of eco friendly ganesha. if u have any other ideas do mail me sir. thanks.
umesh derebail says
Karnataka pollution board had conducted a campaign of green ganesha last year, their main advice was to reuse Ganesha, which may not provide for the excitement of having a procession. Secondly they suggested installation of Ganesha without paint, which makes it dull. The final solution thought was to have lead free painted Ganesha.
Shrinidhi Hande says
Why not just reuse Ganesh idols every year?
Mohan says
There is a lot of technical reasoning behind why we get a new idol every year and disperse in water after the festival. Few things aren’t that easy to change…
sush says
Very interesting post Mr.Mohan. Thanx for sharing info- gr8 idea.
cheers
sush
Mohan says
Thank you Sushma. Hope everyone goes environmental friendly to observe the festival in the right spirits!
Deeksha says
Oops!!!! I meant next to food world Gandhi Bazar in Bangalore.
Mohan says
Thanks for the additional info Deeksha! appreciate your help.
Deeksha says
Eco Friendly Ganesha’s are available @ Gandhi Bazar next to food world. I bought one for my home.
ShopKeeper’s Name is Nagalakshmi: 9945305207.
Thought this info info will help few people
Krutika says
Hey thanks alot for all the info about submersion places in mumbai.If anyone could provide the details of where i can find clay idols in Mumabi it would be great.Mumbai is greatly harmed during this festival..please help!
Mohan says
Look at the comment by ‘magiceye’ below in this article for Clay idols of Ganesha in Mumbai.
Sonali says
Hi Mohan,
I would like to know where can i get mud in Mumbai or Thane(Mumbai’s suburb) to make Ganesh idol myself at home. This plan i want to make idol myself.
Thanks…
Mohan says
Hi Sonali, check out the information provided by ‘magiceye’ in this article in the form of comments.
tushar says
Dear Mohan,
Please let me know if you know any Eco friendly Ganesh Idol vendors in Mumbai.
Regards,
Tushar
Anuj Srivastava says
nicely written…
zephyr says
Mohan, I’ve linked this to my post ‘Look who’s talking,’ my take on recycling. http://cybernag.in/2010/09/look-who’s-talking
Mohan says
Thanks Zephyr, nice thoughts on where we are heading to! I have commented on that already 🙂
varsha says
I really appreciate this initiative!
Worshiping God is sacred only when it comes through revering nature.In ancient times there was no dichotomy-but now we must consciously endeavour to respect ecology.
Mohan says
Thanks Varsha! Absolutely, preserving nature is the right way of worshiping god!
Addy says
I got them, a myriad were infact there, on Sampige road, Malleswaram 8th to 11th cross. They are much economical(Rs 20 for half feet idol) and extremely cute.
Dear all,
Please resolve to go green with only brown (mud ganesha) atlease next year!
Mohan says
Awesome! glad you bought up the price tag as well. thanks for the info.
magiceye says
wonderful initiative mohan. mimbaikars can opt a greener way of immersion by immersing the idols in artificial ponds at
Byculla zoo playground
Mayor’s bungalow, Shivaji Park
Mahatma Gandhi School, Bandra (East)
Dr.Hedgewar Maidan, Vile Parle (East)
Pestom Sagar, Chembur
Guzder Park, Goregaon
Ramleela Maidan, Malad
Sainagar Municipal Chowkie, Kandivili
Akurli Municipal Chowkie, Kandivili
Murbadi, Dahisar
Dahisar Sports Foundation
Chikkuwadi, Borivili
Anantrao Bhosale ground, Borivili
Kulupwadi, Borivili
Swapnanagari Talao, Mulund
Mohan says
Thanks Deepak. Appreciate the info you have provided 🙂
Sachin says
In hyderabad HMDC is helping in providing green ganapati (clay idol).
Distribution is done by youth for seva organization also.
Those interested may send a request to yfshyd@youthforseva.org with a subject line “Interested in Clay Idol” ( for ease of tracking). You can call Sumanth at +91 99666 04242.
Pls spreed more awareness on Green Ganapati, so that our children’s can also enjoy happy and un-polluted life.
Sachin
Mohan says
That is fantastic piece of info. Thanks for sharing it with many others through this medium.
vaibhav dugar says
Mohan:
here’s more for you and your readers-
Youth For Seva Office,
“AjithaShree” , #8/28 ,
Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore-4 : Ph: 9980900075
from 6th-10 Sept afternoon (4pm-8pm).
The Living, #56,
Tatana Mane Compound, ,III Main Road,
Chamarajapet,
Bangalore 560018
Veena Kala Mandir,
Tata Silk Farm circle, K.R.Road, Bangalore
Ph : 9241715008 / 9901303390
Kamalini # 37, 17th Cross,
Sri Bhooma Malleswaram, Bangalore, Karnataka 560003
Phone : 080 23567470.
Mr.Kari Basappa, Nagarajappa – 10th Main, Srinivasnagar, Near Ayappa temple,Bsk 1st Stage ,B’lore 50
— keep up the good work —
Vaibhav
Mohan says
Thanks for the additional details Vaibhav, appreciate your help.
kirtish says
brilliant idea with good initiative.
…thinking about “what can i do”
thanx
Mohan says
Hope you had a great time!
Jyothi says
Nice Idea. I was in Bangalore three days back and I saw colourful Ganesh Statues all over the place. Huge ones too. I was thinking of the state of the rivers and seas too. 🙂 Great post. Can’t add any places here, since I live in Dubai. 🙂
Mohan says
Thanks Jyothi, we can start spreading the awareness this way at least to make people think about the aftermath!
sharbori says
hi Mohan, very useful info. please do post similar one for diwali idols and firecrackers.
thanks
Mohan says
Sure, I will keep that in mind and will add one during the season 🙂 Thanks!
Karthik says
Hi mohan… Nice article … If you have any idea that where such idols are sold in hyderabad… I am very much thankful to you if you post any information regarding this issure
Mohan says
Karthik, there are many places where the natural clay ganesha idols are being sold in hyderabad too. Just check in your neighborhood – you should be able to find it easily.
Swaram says
Nice post Mohan.
parisaraganapati.net has a lot of details on the same. Infact, there is a jatra in Blr tomorrow to spread awareness about the same.
Mohan says
Thanks swaram, i was inspired to write this after reading your post 🙂
keerthana says
I heard there are places where they sell idols painted with eco friendly dyes, I don’t know if its true
Mohan says
I don’t have much info on that Keerthana! pls do share if you get to find it out.
mayank sharma says
nice post Sir…
Mohan says
Thanks Mayank.
viji says
great infomation sir….
Mohan says
Glad you liked it viji 🙂
viji says
yes sir… we are celebrating this for years and years but we didnt think about that issue… so thanks…
Mohan says
Good, look forward to see the change! Also, please spread the word among your friends and relatives too. every bit of effort counts a lot.
viji says
sure sir….
Mohan says
Thank you!
Kevin says
Excellent article, Mohan. Not only have you brought forth the problem in detail but also provided good solution to it. I hope once people are aware that they can have an environment friendly Ganesha, many of them switch to them.
Mohan says
Thanks Kevin. Pls do spread the awareness among your friends too, every bit counts!
Gautam says
Good post, great thought. Clay Ganesha using natural colors gives a truly rare and pure devotional feeling to the idols. I am from chennai, and saw such idols being sold by vendors on side of streets in Velachery during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Mohan says
Good to see that people are willing to switch over to eco-friendly ways of celebrating festivals. Pls do share other locations where such Ganesha idols are being sold. It will help many 🙂
Rookie says
Informative post, you have taken lots of pain and research for this post.
Mohan says
Thanks, such words keeps me going strong 🙂
prasanna raghavan says
hai Mohan,
It is really amazing how much research you have done in preparing this post. It is very informative. Here in South Africa, there is no such idol immersion, or at least I have not come across one. Again, I do not think it is possible here because there are lots of public awareness groups that are very active here. Fire cracking on Dewali is controlled here by law. It can do a lot of damage to dogs. Poor things get mad when they are exposed to sounds above certain frequencies.
Keep on blogging
Mohan says
Thanks prasanna! I know only in India we care for none 🙂 Though law prohibits crackers before 6am and after 10pm, our people take things for granted. Thanks again!
srividhya says
Brilliant idea. hats off for the initiative!!! I have been really disinterested in religious festivals. But I surely like the way you put some thought to the process.
Mohan says
Thanks Srividhya! Well, the festivals are celebrated for a reason and especially in hinduism there is an interesting story behind every celebration. Let me come up with another article on what each of the rituals signify, though we blindly follow what our elders say – there is a scientific reasoning behind each such act. I have an amazing pdf too to share with you all.
srividhya says
Thanks Mohan. I am quite interested to know what the rituals mean to our personal lives. Please send it over when you can spare a moment
Vidya says
Mohan, so well thought… Ganesh Chauthri brings me memories of year after year waking up in the morning accompanying my dad to the flower market to buy fresh flowers and also to buy freshly made ganesh idol. I would stand there and wait for him to do his final finishing. He would decorate the God with red beads for the eyes. Next to him sit there will be stall selling arugam pull, malai and fancy umberellas to decorate the god. After the festival, we drop it in well or a near by pond. (So that gives you another tip that Poo Market in Coimbatore still sell clay Ganesha’s)
I guess this ritual has some where become so commercial that people are not willing to take a step back and think of the environment. More that individual its the society and community celebrations that people tend to buy huge and colourful Ganesha. I am more thinking about the likes of cities like Bombay, Hyd, Delhi; i really hope people stop competing about festivals and stop spoiling these places.
Mohan says
Thank you so much Vidya! Ah.. so much nostalgic 🙂
True, to lure customers the vendors are making Ganesha idols colorful. It is definitely time to retrospect and fall back on to the natural ways.
S.R.Ayyangar says
I am going in for unpainted natural clay Ganesha and it is immersed in bucketful of water and subsequently the mud spread on my own garden for almost two decades now.
Mohan says
Wow.. Ayyangar you are truly inspirational. Thank you so much for your foresight and kudos to you for celebrating that way for 2 decades.
bhavia says
Go Green Ganesha..
Go Green Festivals..
timely post.. Now let me see whether I can find out some places of these kind in Chennai
Mohan says
Absolutely 🙂 Sure, let us put it all together and contribute our bit towards going green!
Prince says
This has to mandated by govt, coz people listen only if there is a rule made
Mohan says
Hmmm… Do you think the govts have time to think about all such good things? They have more serious issues on their plates to discuss and think about. [of course, pun intended.]
Hitesh says
well, this is great…… though i don’t know much of about Ganesh chaturthi …. but it surely going to share it with my friends and other on FB and others….
Mohan says
Hitesh, I am surprised to hear that you don’t know much of Ganesha festival. Thanks, appreciate your decision to spread the word and there by awareness on eco-friendly way of celebrating of the festival.
shruti says
Perfect timing….This time, Its gonna be my eco-friendly Ganesha at home!!!!
Mohan says
Wow Shruti… you folks are on a roll! A while back you got the rain water harvesting stuff done and now this eco-friendly Ganesha. Awesome.. Festival wishes in advance to you and your family 🙂
zephyr says
That was a very timely and concerned post Mohan! In our family we have a small stone Ganesha which is worshipped on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi and continues to be worshipped through the year. Even when we buy an idol there is no custom of doing visarjan. it is added to the other idols and dolls that we decorate the nine steps during Navratri!
In my mother’s house, there was the custom of making the idol from clay collected from a clean spot and then left under the Tulsi plant to become part of the earth naturally. All the showbaazi of today’s celebrations have made the idols more and more toxic and harmful for the environment. We need more awareness of the same. Good work!
Mohan says
Thanks zephyr. Good to see you being regular here on my blog 🙂
Awesome, there are so many inspirational people here to celebrate the festival in a unique way without having to meddle with the nature!
Aditya says
Good day sir,
I would like to contribute an interesting fact w.r.t. my family which, now I am realizing, can contribute to a ‘Greener Ganpati’.
My grandfather, who was always foresighted and ages ahead of his time, while he was alive, envisaged this concept of a ‘permanent’ Ganesh idol to be kept in the family for Ganesh ustov.
As per his wishes, our family i.e. all near cousins, contributed towards a permanent idol of ganesha to be made of silver. Every year this idol is rotated between the cousins who are designated to hold the ganesh ustov in that particular year. At the end of the festival, we immerse this idol in a tub of water at home and then pass it onto the next cousin for safe keeping and re-using for the next year.
By this we all share the burden of hosting ganesh ustov together, it gets the family together under on roof instead of scattering all over the city at different locations for the festival & also contributes to curbing environmental pollution as we do not immerse anything into the seas or waterways.
This is just one of the ways of keeping our waterways non-polluted. Am sure Lord Ganesh approves
Warm regards,
Aditya Pednekar
Mumbai, India.
Mohan says
Wow.. that is truly inspirational Aditya. Hats off to your your grandfather. Well, this act not only goes out to say how to be environmental friendly, but at the same time bridges the gap between relatives by ensuring a gathering in the name of festival! Thanks for sharing the way you celebrate festival.
lahari says
Appreciate the great work to give details abt the places in Banglore to buy clay pillayars.. Nice work.. I guess it always gives a sort of satisfaction inside when we spend lil time for our environment too na?! Great work.. All the best. and Happy Vinayaka Chathurthi in advance.
Mohan says
Absolutely, that has been the inspiration for me to continue to come up with such social cause related articles on this blog 🙂 Thank you and my wishes to you and your family too on the occasion.