It’s that time of the year when the lakes around the city are filled to the brim and vegetation around the waterbodies are blooming, making it a delight to watch for every city dweller. However, in a few days, as Ganesh Chaturthi ushers in, these lakes and other waterbodies will lose their charm and the greenery would decay with immersions of Plaster of Paris made idols. While the festivity is a good idea, the way it is being observed does more harm than good to mankind environment.

 

The harmful chemicals used in the making and painting of idols take a toll on the water bodies, contaminate them, and make them the hoarding site for mosquitos and other disease causing bacteria. This could however change, if everyone takes a pledge to celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi, that also contributes to the purification of the lakes. While each one of us cannot step into the waters and clean it, we could let our idols do the job. Yes, that’s right. Your Ganesha idol could do the water purification process for you if it is made of cow dung.

The tradition of making idols with cow dung dates back to several centuries, and these idols have stood the test of time, for instance, a Hanuman idol, that dates back to over four hundred years, stands tall in the city of Nigoha in UP. Idols made of cow dung, are considered to be holy, and capable of warding away the evil eye, and there are a lot of scientific evidence to add value to this belief.

 

The ingredients used in the preparation of the Gomaya Ganesha or cow dung Ganesha have several medicinal properties.

The Ganesha idols can be ordered on Klimom website and will be custom made, using only desi (Gir) cow dung. The cow dung is dried for around three days, ground, with desi cow urine and turmeric, that act as a natural disinfectant on the cow dung. The Ganeshas will be on sale on the website, so hurry and place your order now, to do your bit for the environment.