A Greener Ganesh
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA 
on 08.20.07
Photo credit: Fredo Alvarez
An age-old tradition of molding Ganesh idols out of clay is being revived just in time for Ganesh Chaturthi, or the Ganesh Festival, which takes place on Sept. 15 this year.
A company known as eCoexist, based in the western Indian city of Pune, has crafted biodegradable Ganesh idols made from shaadu, or natural clay. Hand-sculpted by traditional artisans from Pen village, the idols are painted with natural dyes such as turmeric, multani mitti, and geroo.
In the past, devotees made Ganesh idols from clay procured from their own homes, and then immersed the statues in their own ponds or tanks to symbolize the cycle of creation and dissolution in nature.
Clay was soon outflanked by the emerging Plaster of Paris, which made idols cheaper, less fragile, and easier to transport. Because Plaster of Paris isn't a naturally occurring material, however, it resulted in rampant water pollution when immersed, increasing the acid content of the water and leaching heavy metals from chemical paints used on the idols.
"By demonstrating that there is a growing market for such idols, we hope to give the sculptors the confidence to make the shift back to using natural clay," said eCoexist proprietor Manisha Gutman. ::Yahoo India
See also: ::Religion and the Environment, ::Global Warming to Dry Up Ganges River, and ::Uncovering an Ancient City Felled by Urban Sprawl
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This is a good move.Infact in "bangalore",the corporation is struggling to make sure this idols wont pollute the water.They ask people to put it in seperate places so that it wont disturb the main water sources ,but have not seen much change.
All the major dyes used in the making are cheap of course toxic too and are dipped in water bodies ,like lakes and rivers.In costal areas they are often drowned in sea.
So if these dyes are eco frinendly and bio degradable will be a good thing for the festive season.
"Think of educating and creating awareness among thosands whose celebrate this festival which continue for days all over India".
Hello Jasmin
Thank you for featuring us in your blog. Alongside the idols themselves we are also going to be coordinating a massive drive to collect and recycle flowers that would have otherwise gotten immersed into the river. This project will be done along with the women prisoners of the Yerawada jail who will learn to seggregate and dry the flower petals and then grind them to make powder.
The public in Pune is responding with great enthusiasm to this work and although right now the scale is like a drop in the ocean, we are hoping that it will inspire others to take on similar work.
Thanks again
Manisha
hiya
i have got this homework to do and its on ganesh chaturthi and im really stuck help me pleasexxx