Pandals Are Going Green This Ganesh Chaturthi

The rise in pollution levels during the holy festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has been a cause of worry. Amid the grandeur and celebration of the festival, both land and water are polluted. Roads are littered while large processions are taken out to bid farewell to the idol. The river water is polluted when these idols, made of Plaster of Paris, are submerged in water bodies across the country.

To cut down on this negative impact that the festival has on the environment, some pandals are now adopting green ways. We list a few green pandals you should be visiting:

Delhi ka Maharaja (Laxmi Nagar, Delhi)

Delhi-NCR pandals seem to be more conscious about the environment. One such is Delhi ka Maharaja. This Laxmi Nagar-based organisation has been setting up pandals for the last 16 years and this year it has come up with an eco-friendly idol of Ganesh and the visarjan would take place within the pandal. This, the organisation says, reduces traffic on roads and allows them to avoid polluting the Yamuna. Additionally, this year, the pandal will also feature 4,500 plants. These plants will be given to the visitors along with prasad once the visarjan is completed.

Keshavji Naik Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal (Girgaon, Mumbai)

This mandal is one of the oldest in Mumbai, founded by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893. Apart from its historical significance, the pandal set up by this mandal is known for its eco-friendly practices. Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the mandal went in for a Ganpati idol made of shadu or natural clay. Since it is chemical-free, when immersed in water, it doesn't pollute the water.

Sri Satya Ganpati Trust (Bengaluru)

This Ganesh Chaturthi, the Bengaluru-based trust planned to celebrate the festival with a difference. Get ready to witness a Ganesh Idol made of sugarcane. The idol has been created in a month’s time by 150 people. It took over five tonne of sugarcane to design the idol.

Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti (Huda Community Centre, Gurgaon)

Before setting up a pandal in Gurgaon’s Sector 27, a plantation drive was conducted by the Samiti. The drive witnessed the participation of 150 people and 70 saplings were planted around the community. To keep the spirit up, more saplings will be placed at the pandal and will be distributed for free for those who want to take one home. 

Lalbaugcharaja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal (Lalbaug, Mumbai)

After the Supreme Court's ban on the use of thermocol and plastic during the festival season, many pandals took onto using green products. At the Lalbaug pandal, which has a legacy of 85 years, paper-mache has been used for the decoration. 

GSB Seva Mandal (King's Circle, Mumbai)

One of the richest pandals, here the Ganesh idol is adorned with 60 kg of gold. This year, the pandal managers have taken a few eco-friendly steps by installing an idol made of clay, and will be serving organic food on plantation leaves.