Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya!

The joyous festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner and our enthusiasm cannot be tamed! Amidst the waves of a raging pandemic, it’s the moments like these that bring together the entire nation (symbolically) and make us forget all our sorrows. But hey, while the Vighnaharta takes care of all our difficulties, let’s not be one for our already endangered environment.

Unfortunately, while the zest and fervor associated with this festival bring joy, they definitely aren’t ideal for the environment. The festival Ganesh Chaturthi gives rise to a lot of pollution and causes an adverse impact on nature. But if we decide for ourselves, this year doesn’t have to be like that. The pandemic has already inculcated a lot of changes within us, it’s about time that we embrace the good ones with open hearts!

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Below listed are a few of the many sustainable ways one can celebrate this joyous festival without being a burden to the environment!

ECO-FRIENDLY IDOLS

If you want to celebrate a sustainable festival, start right by picking your Ganesha Idol. POP or Plaster of Paris idols have a hazardous effect on our water bodies and should be avoided at any cost. There are many artists who opt for eco-friendly murtis made of paper and natural clay. If you are an artist and DIY is your thing, we suggest you make one yourself using natural clay, Multani Mitti and organic colours of all sorts. Apart from not doing any harm, such idols will prove to be beneficial as the leftover clay post Visarjan can be used for plants.

THE THREE R’s – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Instead of buying new decorative items every year and increase bio-hazard waste, we suggest you dig out those flickering Diwali lights and diyas and put them to good use.

DIY DECORATIONS

Or better, make some DIY decoration items with things lying around in your house. One can make a lot of things using some basic artsy stuff, a pair of scissors and 100% creative freedom! Plus, it also helps with a great family time, isn’t it? Here are few of the items that we can suggest:

Shade candles

All you need is paper, needles and of course, a candle. Poke creative holes along with patterns and jazz on a sheet of white paper and wrap it around the candle. Could be later used for date nights also, no?

Origami Flowers

make a garden of your own with sheets of origami papers like the world is your oyster. Create different kinds and colours of flowers that will enhance the look of your home without adding much waste.

Bottle Lamps

If you are tired of lacing the windows around with fairy lights (let's be honest, it's done and dusted), shove them in an empty bottle and let them shine collectively!

BIO-DEGRADABLE ELEMENTS

A small change but can make a huge difference. While distributing the prasadam, switch to biodegradable containers made of banana leaves and areca nut plates. They are used just once and are anyways going to end up in waste.

Similarly, it’s advisable to use garlands and other natural elements like shells and origami creations for decorations.

CUT DOWN ON NOISE POLLUTION

Playing aartis and bhajans at a very high volume in your residence won’t prove your devotion; taking care of your fellow neighbors will. Try and cut down on noise pollution by playing the music on a lower tone thus avoiding disturbances for everyone around you. For the ones who are organizing a community festival in their respective locality, refrain from the use of loudspeakers and megaphones as well as bursting firecrackers after 10 PM for everyone’s convenience.

OPT FOR ARTIFICIAL OR SYMBOLIC IMMERSION

Getting out in public for Visarjan at overcrowded beaches during times of pandemic can be very dangerous. Also, it affects our already endangered waterbodies gravely. As a sustainable option, one should opt for artificial immersion tanks and ponds built by the community for idol immersion. That water can be used for plants and trees later on.

Also, another great way of celebrating a low-key Ganesh Chaturthi festival is symbolic immersion. People use idols made of marble and stone and dip them in their bucket at home only to use the idol for next year.

Celebrating the joyous festival and caring about the ecosystem can go hand in hand. It’s about time we realize this and start making a difference. What are your thoughts on this?

(Image Source- Google)