Whenever we start a new job, new business, or before the start of any new relationship we cannot do without this cute little God that always takes place not only in our hearts but also our pages when we are about to write an exam paper or our business ledgers. We always write or say, “OM GANESHAYE NAMAH”.
And we worship Ganapati at this time of the year every time. The only thing that is nagging our minds is when we perform the puja and offer him laddoos with utmost respect and love – why do we so cruelly immerse him without a second thought. That too the whole idol is not immersed well, some of the remains come back on the shore and all we do is click pictures and upload them on the net.
And this is one of the few reasons, that many people all over have come up with the idea of Eco Ganpati. We caught up with one of the artists, Rachna Sharma Joshi who also runs Artzooka Art and Design School in Indore.
Excerpts:
Since when have you been making Eco Ganpati and what made you realize you want to make them?
About five years back I had seen pictures of Mumbai’s Lord Ganesha’s Utsav when they used to immerse them. I was worried about the Ganesh Pratima. The idols were fully destroyed in a very bad manner and that is the time that I had decided to make Ganesha at home and also encouraged my students to prepare at home on their own.
What are the materials you use while making Eco Ganpati?
I use yellow mitti, gond and herbal colours/acrylic paint as per choice.
How do you immerse (visarjan) the idols?
I used to prefer my garden for visarjan. I take a big tub filled with water and flowers and after that, we keep our idols in that. Within two to three days the idols get fully converted into the sand.
A message to all the Winning Strees this Ganesh Utsav?
We should always respect our culture and also love our nature. So please do this process and take care of your Mother Earth as well as the rituals.
We also have a video made especially to show you how an Eco Ganpati can be made at home.
