'I'd like to soak in all the festivities'

Sandalwood actor Ragini Dwivedi was spotted shopping for a Ganesha idol at Malleswarm Market early this week.

She was looking for an idol that was made from pure clay. “Most of the shopkeepers that I interacted with said that the sales weren’t as good as it was last year because the idols were not made from Plaster of paris (POP) weren’t as attractive. But this is a strong message that is being sent to people to stop using POP made idols and to buy the eco-friendly Ganesha idols,” says Ragini.

The actor urges people to stop using POP-made idols and turn to using those made from clay.

“People must become more conscious about how they celebrate festivals. It is important to retain the spirit of the festival but not indulge in activities that cause harm to the environment. I hope more and more people start using Ganesha idols made from clay,” she says.

She thinks that this is the best time to spread the message of creating a more clean and green environment.

She is happy that the pop idols have been banned and the immersion rules have been made more strict this year.

“The POP idols are not dissolvable in water and leave the lakes polluted. It would be better for people to buy a Ganesha idol made from mud and clay and immerse it at home. People could reuse this water by pouring it to the plants. This act makes sure that you follow the tradition without harming the environment,”she says.

Ragini is all set to celebrate the festival with her family. “Ever since we moved to Bengaluru, my mother has taken the trouble to make sure she follows the local tradition. She makes ‘Modak’, ‘Laddoos’ and I am a huge fan homemade ‘Motichoor laddoos.’ This is something that I can dive into at anytime,” she adds.

The actor also plans to take off work this year and spend time at home.

“It is not always that I have the luxury of being able to stay at home. My brother is coming down from Mumbai and this will also make the festival more special,” she says.

On the work front, the actor has a couple of projects that are ready for release and is all set to sign a couple more. “I would like to first soak in all the festivities before I return for a hectic week of work,” she signs off.