A few days ago, while the preparations for
the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi were on in full swing, it was surprising to
see one group busy… not with the setting up of the matoli or decoration of
the makkar but with the construction of a water tank! Some may wonder what role
would a water tank play in the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Well, these tanks
will have an important role to play during the last ritual of the festival, the
visarjan.
Due to the immersion of Plaster of Paris
(PoP) Ganesh idols along with flowers and plastic items into rivers, ponds and
wells, these water bodies get contaminated. In a bid to avoid this, people are
now choosing to have the immersion of the Ganesh idol done in artificial water
tanks. Though this practice is a common one in Maharashtra, Goa too has got one
of its first water tanks for immersion.
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The locals from Dhakle Tollem-Vasco
recently constructed a water tank for this very purpose. They say, “For last 20
years, the people from this area have been immersing their Ganpatis in the
age-old tollem (pond) here. Once the pond got contaminated, we started
immersing the idols in a well. But said well is quite far from our residential
area and is also getting contaminated, hence we decided to construct this
tank.”
RJ Pankaj Kudtarkar, who has heard about
this concept being implemented in Goa, for the the first time, says, “There are
a lot of ways to make Chaturthi eco-friendly. But then there are also
sentiments attached to it. People now are getting educated and know how to
dispose the Nirmalya properly. Tanks could be a good option. But authorities
should make sure to dispose off the mud generated after the immersion into such
tanks. It should be recycled.”
Panjim-based architect and green crusader
Tallulah D’Silva says, “In Goa, I have heard about immersion of Ganesh idols
into artificial water tanks for the first time. This concept was there in
Mumbai. I do not see how far this initiative proves to be eco-friendly. The
Plaster of Paris idols are already banned in the state by the law. However, the
colours used to paint the idols are sometimes harmful and non-biodegradable.
The chemicals in the paint get dissolved in the water, making the water body
toxic. We must look at this campaign in a larger context and celebrate Ganesh
Chaturthi in an eco-friendly manner by banning all non-organic things.”
In the past, these idols were made of clay
and painted with natural colours. But with rising costs and increase in demand,
the manufacturing process has become more commercialised. She further adds,
“Lord Ganesh is the god of ecology. We should try to follow the traditional
practices associated with the festival.”
There is another noble way to do Ganesh
immersion, says Sachin Desai from Taleigao, adding, “Firstly, ensure that your
idol has been made using natural materials, including the paint. Then use a
bucket or artificial pond if the idol is large in size. Once the idol gets
dissolved, use the same water for plants. It is a great way of giving back to
nature and celebrating an eco-friendly Chaturthi.”
