Clay Idols to Be Installed in Amalapuram, Ramachandrapuram
Devotees, NGOs, and officials push for clay idols to protect the environment this Ganesh Chaturthi
Kakinada: A growing awareness is evident among devotees this time on installing environment-friendly clay idols of Lord Ganapathi, marking Ganesh Chaturthi.
The pandal organizers of Amalapuram and Ramachandrapuram in the Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district are setting up 12 feet clay idols in their respective localities. Many organisations want to install the clay idols, but hey had bitter experiences in the past.
An organiser in Kakinada, DN Ramesh, said that during the celebrations some time ago, they had organised a clay idol, but it collapsed at the installation time. The devotees felt this was a very inauspicious sign. “Manufacturers of clay idols are available, and we are getting ready to erect one this time.”
To promote awareness on clay idols for Ganapathi Pooja, the state pollution control board istributed 10,000 mini clay idols to school children across the district. An official said the immersion of clay idols can be done at homes. A sapling may be planted on the idol’s clay, he proposed, saying it would grow well.
He urged devotees not to pollute the environment with idols made of plaster of paris and the like, which have plastic and chemical contents that could harm the environment.
Many organisations have distributed clay idols in different places. Green Core is making clay idols with help from school children and distributing it to the people in important junctions. The Dharithri Foundation also distributed clay idols.
