Anakapalli Continues with Traditional Ganesha of Seeds, Pulses
Each year, they build and worship a Ganesha idol made entirely from edible seeds and pulses grown by farmers locally.
Visakhapatnam: For the past 15 years, residents of Shanti Nagar, located in the 9th ward of Narsipatnam in Anakapalli district, have celebrated Vinayaka Chavithi in a unique and eco-conscious way.
Each year, they build and worship a Ganesha idol made entirely from edible seeds and pulses grown by farmers locally.
Vanapalli Vasu, a goldsmith by profession and a proud resident of Shanti Nagar, has led this inspiring initiative. Since 2009, he has been crafting Ganesha idols using natural ingredients instead of harmful chemicals or plaster of Paris.
Vasu shared with the Deccan Chronicle, “I always wanted to do something different for Vinayaka Chavithi in our colony. I began creating idols using seeds and pulses, which we use at home. This year, I made a Vidya Ganapati idol using 18 different seeds and pulses.” These include fenugreek, urad, pumpkin, soybeans, gram, peas, coriander, chickpeas, sampu, badam, saggubiyyam, pineapple flowers, beans, mustard, sabja and mung.
Vasu spent 15 days crafting and decorating the idol at the Vinayaka Chavithi Mandapam in Shanti Nagar. He learnt the basics of idol-making from his father, Vanapalli Sukaraju.