Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi: Greener Ways to Celebrate

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of India's most significant festivals, uniting people through worship and celebration. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on 27th August. Hindu communities celebrate this 10-day festival with great enthusiasm, joy, and devotion.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the largest environmental disasters we can no longer pretend doesn't happen. The yearly destruction of approximately 150,000+ Ganesh Idols immersed in bodies of water in India is a major problem, as most of the idols are made from Plaster of Paris and chemical dyes. The bodies of water are polluted, aquatic life is dying, and we are left with a pile of non-biodegradable material.

But there are ways to change that. There is increased awareness and responsibility, and we are seeing households and communities looking for ways to honour Lord Ganesha and are becoming more conscious of the environment. Below are some very practical and earth-friendly suggestions to celebrate your Ganesh Chaturthi in an eco-friendly manner.

Tips to celebrate Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi

• Choose Eco-friendly Ganesh Idols

Idols made of plastic of Paris (POP) have been used for many years, which take months to dissolve in water and also leach toxins into it, polluting the oceans and rivers. Modern Ganesh idols made from natural clay, handmade from papier-mâché, or cow dung are better options. The organic idols dissolve quickly in the water and have zero environmental impact as they are completely biodegradable.

Below is what you can do for a greener celebration: 

• Seed Ganesh idols, which will sprout once showered with the soil (instead of water).  
• Chocolate Ganesh idols, which you can immerse in milk to reuse and serve as prasad after.  

According to a 2022 report published by the Mumbai civic body, eco-friendly idols composed of clay, papier-mache, and cow dung comprised merely 13% of all idols that were purchased. This number can't help but grow with more consumer preference.

• Sustainable Decoration Ideas for Ganesh Chaturthi

Decorations play an important role in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. Devotees use to make pandals where they decorate them with flowers, rangoli, and lights. But most of these decorative items are thermocol or plastic flowers that eventually go to landfill.

Here are some ideas for Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi decoration at home:

• Canopies and backdrops made out of cotton or jute.
• Fresh flowers, banana leaves, mango leaves, and reusable, LED fairy lights can all be used for decoration
• Backdrops made from cardboard or newspaper art using eco-friendly paints.

Make origami decor with your family. It is a fun way to spend time with your loved ones and creates zero waste.

• Say No to Single-Use Plastic

Single-use plastic is one of the largest types of pollution at festivals. It comes in the form of plastic cups, plastic plates, carry bags, and decorative items. It ends up choking drains and harming marine life. Instead of plastic, you can use compostable plates or bowls, made from bagasse or areca palm leaf, to serve pooja prasad. You can also use a bamboo cutting board to cut fruits for parasad. As these plates or bowls are compostable, they directly go back to nature without harming the planet. 

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, India generates more than 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. Slow and steady counts towards change.

• Green Lightning Choices

Illuminating your home for Ganesh Chaturthi is a wonderful custom, but it can be expensive in terms of energy used.

• Sustainable lighting options you can include in your decoration:
• LED lights use up to 80% less energy compared to traditional bulbs.
• Lamps that use solar energy in outdoor portions of your home Soy or beeswax candles 

Set the lights on a timer so they do not stay on all night, reducing not only the energy give, but also the cost from your electric bill.

• Use an Artificial Tank for Immersion

The idol immersion in rivers causes water pollution.

To avoid being a contributor to this:

• Use a home immersion tank.
• Some locations have mobile immersion tanks; check with your local municipal body.
  
• Once the idol has been immersed, you can use the excess water to water plants.

If you are part of a housing society, contact the others and create a community artificial pond that can create accountability.

Conclusion

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity, and luck. By sustainably celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, we can honor the value he represents. The simple but impactful changes you can make this year to celebrate eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, celebrate more consciously, smarter, and cleaner celebrations. Let’s start with one change that can encourage our communities to continue one kind action, so that the joy of Ganesh Chaturthi can happen without the pain of the planet dying.