Team Herald
PONDA: Matoli artists in Ponda and Dharbandora are promoting eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations using natural items such as fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants in their matoli decorations.
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Matoli artists often decorate entire halls with matoli, which attract large crowds and normally 20 to 50 items are tied in Matoli.
However, this year, artist Devu Shetkar has created a unique matoli ‘Dudhsagar Rakhandhar’ using 300 items to convey the message of environmental protection.
Devu and his family emphasise the need to protect the environment from destruction and exploitation.
They have worked hard to collect matoli items from various parts of Goa’s forests, including Anmod. The matoli decorations include jungle fruits with medicinal value, highlighting the importance of preserving nature’s gifts.
Explaining the concept behind matoli, artist Devu Shetkar and his family at Gauthan, Piliem-Dharbandora, said, “There is a need to save Mother Earth from the destruction by exploiting the hills and forest due to human greed.”
He said, “It took a month of hard work to visit various forests across Goa and Anmod to get the Matoli items. My family members helped me in decorating the matoli.”
“Several fruits including those found in the jungle, which have medicinal value, are tied to the matoli. We need to protect Mother Earth from destruction,” he added.
