Coloured Ganesha idols rule the roost here!

Festival: No takers for eco-friendly idols

It is time again to welcome Gowri and Ganesha with the festivals falling on September 18 and 19 respectively.

The streets are dotted with colourful idols of Ganesha two months in advance facilitating buyers to choose depending on their budget. But ironically, there is no place for eco-friendly Ganeshas here.

Green Ganeshas, making waves in Mysore city, seem to have taken a backseat in the border district.

The number of artisans using natural colours too are dwindling. Moreover, there are only a few who are involved in making idols in the district. With people opting for idols attractively painted using harmful chemicals, there are literally no takers for colourless clay idols.

The district unit of the pollution control board has directed to use only natural colours for making Ganesha idols using clay. The board has also ruled out idols made with plaster of paris and baked clay for making idols. It has stressed on the use of natural colours that dissolve in water and has banned chemical paints that affect the ecosystem. But, as usual, it has been violated. “It is inevitable as devotees demand colour idols,” say artisans. “An awareness is the need of the hour and only if the mindset of the people change, it is possible to make green Ganeshas,” they opine.

The price of the idols have increased when compared to previous year from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, based on the size and design. S Nataraju, an artisan from Ramasamudra, says the cost of raw materials have shot up and it has become inevitable to increased the price of the idols. The number of people buying eco-friendly Ganeshas is very less even though their price is lesser compared to colour idols. A majority of those buying clay idols are the ones who offer puja at home while associations and mandalis still opt colour idols, he adds.