Ganesh festival in Mumbai exhibits enormous energy throughout the festival. Every year this energy keeps on adding. There are thousands of Ganesh idols which are worshipped by Mandals and in households. This increase in Ganesh idols in modern times is also contributing to serious environmental pollution. Everybody are ignoring this fact and there is lack of awareness.
Everyone know immersion of idols causes water pollution. But really don't have insight of the problem. Awareness of chemicals involved and its adverse effect is very important:
Earlier idols were made of traditional mud. Now a days the idol is made of plaster of paris painted using toxic chemical dyes to make them bright and attractive to buyers.
Plaster of paris contains gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus and magnesium Chemical paints contain mercury, cadmium, lead etc. These materials poison water bodies, by increasing chemical and organic content. In the process, ecosystems in these water bodies gate harmed and plant and fish species die in large numbers. Water that has been polluted in this way can cause diseases when drunk by people living downstream.
The result of untraditional idols results are seen after the immersions which is seen at all the beaches in Mumbai as shown in picture below:
Immersion of these can poison the waters of lakes, rivers and the sea by:
increasing acidityincreasing solid matter
increasing organic matter
increasing content of heavy metals
Such pollution damages the ecosystem by:
Killing the fishesDamaging the plants
Blocking the natural flow of the water and causing stagnation
And damages health by polluting drinking water sources causing
Breathing problemsBlood diseases
Skin diseases
The Alternatives
So what is the solution to overcoming the above problems?
Use permanent idols made of brass or stoneDo a symbolic immersionReuse the same idol again the next year
Use a small unpainted idol made of unbaked clay if you immerse the idol
Immerse the idol in a tub or a water tank
Collect the flowers and nirmalya and compost them
Avoid the use of thermocole and plastic in decorations