Sustainable festivities: NCR celebrates with handmade, eco-friendly Bappa idols

Pottery artists across the city conducted their annual Ganpati-making workshops, recently. "There's joy in bringing Bappa home and even greater joy in making the idol by yourself," say the artists. "While most people took their handmade Ganesha home, there were some participants who loved their Ganpati so much that they have got their piece fired in the kiln so that the Ganpati can stay in their mandir and they don't have to bid goodbye to it.The idol-making process deepens one’s connection with Ganpati," Manisha Sah, Noida-based pottery artist.

In some workshop, some pottery artists got seeds added to the clay. After immersion the eco-friendly idols will sprout plants. "The use of raw clay to make the idol allows the idol to dissolve easily in water once immersed. One can also grow a plant in this mud by mixing it with some garden soil and add a seed," says Pooja, pottery artist in Noida.

"The process of making mud ganesha idol with own hand is meditative. This year, 350 participants including school children, corporate professionals sustainability enthusiasts and craft lovers, made Ganesha idols for their homes," she adds.

"Most participants were quite surprised to see that they were able to make the Ganpati themselves, that too with so much ease. It was a display of love, craft, sustainability and devotion," said Sona Srivastava, pottery artist in Gurgaon.