Green celebrations with ‘tree’ Ganesha

While the ecofriendly Ganesha has already been adopted by many devotees over the years, this Ganesh Chaturthi, a few innovative residents have gone a step ahead and opted for Ganesha idols that are not just eco-friendly but idols with trees that would transform into plants.

This is the first year that the residents of Navi Mumbai have adopted the unique Ganesh idols that are placed in earthen pots fondly called as ‘tree Ganesha’ and purify the air around it.

Padmaja Duvvuri, 40, a resident of Seawoods, also bought in a tree Ganesha with lady’s finger seeds in it.

“I belong to Andhra Pradesh where we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in every household in an eco-friendly way since childhood by worshipping clay idols. This is the same tradition I have been following in Mumbai as well for past several decades. But when I found a Mumbai artist who innovated the Tree Ganesha concept last year , I immediately booked one for myself for this Ganesh Chaturthi,” she said.

Duvvuri explained that these idols are made entirely out of red soil, organic fertilizers and seeds, which when watered at the time of immersion turn into regular potted plants.

“The idol then starts melting and the plant starts growing within a few weeks of watering,” she said.

Rajani Deewan (59), another resident from Vashi learnt making Tree Ganesha at a workshop held in Vashi last week. “We made two kinds of idol at the workshop one was already formed with shadu clay which we had to colour using natural ingredients haldi, kumkum and the other was to form a shadu clay idol using Tulsi plants to fill in between. It is very interesting and environment-friendly to use plant Ganesha idols,” she said.

Another resident in Nerul Archana Shinde, 29, who has been celebrating with shadu clay idols for past five years opted for a paper mache Ganesha this time. “Paper mache idols are easy to make. It can easily dissolved and not harm the environment,” said Shinde.

BACHCHAN KUMAR