This Ganesh Chaturthi, buy eco-friendly clay idols or learn how to make your own!
Help inmates of Sabarmati Central Jail earn a livelihood while also saving the planet. Buy eco-friendly clay Ganesha idols from them this week! Or learn how to make your own clay idol at a one-of-a-kind workshop by Avani Varia.
The major Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is right around the corner, with its calendar date of September 13. While the 10-day festival has always seen people bringing copious idols to their homes and societies before immersing them in water, this year, we guide you on how to choose Ganesh idols that will do no damage to the environment. What’s more? Also help inmates of Sabarmati Central Jail earn a livelihood, as a result!
Inmates of Sabarmati Central Jail have prepared 200 easily dissolvable eco-friendly clay idols to sell this Ganesh Chaturthi. Idols made of Plaster of Paris (POP) are damaging for the environemt when immersed in water. They don’t dissolve properly and are sometimes retrieved, repaired and sold again to unenlightened customers. Navajivan Trust, which is promoting the sales of the clay idols made by these inmates, is housing them at its premises. Earnings from the sales of these idols wil be distributed amongst the inmates. You can buy these idols at a modest cost, ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000, at the Karma Cafe in the Navajivan Campus.
Ahmedabad-based heritage artist Avani Varia, who admires handcrafts, is has also been motivating people to make their own clay Ganesh idols since the past six years. In her two-day workshop, scheduled for September 8 and 9, two hours per day, she will be teaching children as well as adults to make their own Ganesh idols. For a mere price of Rs 1700, you can learn how to make a 1 foot big Ganesh idol at this workshop. And you don’t need to be a trained artist to participate in this one-of-a-kind Ganesh-making adventure.
Ideas like these motivate us to celebrate festivals more responsibly. Set an example by adopting eco-friendly ideas this Ganesh Chaturthi. Celebrate, yes, and make the world a better place alongside!
Looking for some inspiration? Watch our video on how to make your own eco-friendly Ganesha idol at home:
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