5 ways to celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Festival this year

It is the time when we welcome the ‘Elephant-headed God’ in our homes. Ganesh Chaturthi, as the festival is referred to in many parts of the country, is spread across three to eleven days of celebration. The festival includes the installation of beautiful Ganesha idols in homes and mandaps whose themes range from religious beliefs to current affairs, with everything bright and colorful around.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated every year with great preparations and enthusiasm. The joy of the festival lies in celebrating it with friends and loved ones. The atmosphere around is vibrant and festive. Let’s look at the ways to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly way and be blessed.

Ganesha Idol

The most important part of the festival is the selection of a Ganesha idol. Usually, the Ganesha idols that are available in the market are either made of plaster of Paris or some other material that is not biodegradable. When immersed in water bodies, these can cause water pollution and harm life underwater.

Nowadays, you can get idols made from eco-friendly material and even some that are made up of red soil, organic fertilizers, natural colors, and seeds that will transform Ganesha Murti into a plant or a tree.

Artificial Immersion Tanks

Even if the idols are made of non-degradable material, you can help the environment. All you need to do is, instead of immersing the idols in natural water bodies, immerse them in artificially made tanks. This practice is slowly becoming popular in certain cities and people are getting aware that the same water is not used for drinking and irrigation, which can easily cause several health hazards.

Save Energy

You can contribute to the conservation of the environment by limiting the use of energy. You can use our festive candles, decorative scented and unscented tea-light candles and elegant ceramic oil warmers when necessary, instead of leaving them on throughout the day.

Eco-Friendly Decoration

Avoid using decorations made of plastic and thermocol. You can simply use fresh flowers, leaves, and festive candles to decorate the pandals for the Ganesh festival. You can also make rangolis and add natural beauty to your Ganpati celebrations. Instead of sewing store-bought plastic bandhanwars, you can buy the ones made of flowers, clay, thread, clothes, etc. You can even make one at home and add a personal touch.

Re-use the flowers offered for Puja

Flowers commonly used in puja are marigold, roses, jasmine, hibiscus, etc. They can be re-used as potpourri. The flowers should be dried away from direct sunlight so that they don’t lose their fragrance and color and can be used whole or as petals. Unscented colorful flowers can also be used, in that case you can add a few drops of our fragrance oils. 

Wishing you a safe and blessed Ganesh Chathurthi!