Punekars choose eco-friendly festival

Punekars choose eco-friendly festival

Pune: Several housing societies in the city and Pimpri Chinchwad have refused to use thermocol and plastic and have adopted eco-friendly measures to celebrate Ganeshostav this year. 

Siddhivinayak Prastha in Nigdi celebrated the festival with ‘zero waste’. Manasi Kulkarni, a resident of the society said, “To avoid thermocol use, we used our plates for food during the festival. The mahaprasad too was served in our plates instead of paper or thermocol plates. Initially, we faced criticism by a few members but now everyone has accepted the ‘no-thermocol usage’ decision.”

Roseland Society in Pimple-Saudagar used solar energy for lighting up the idol. Society Chairman Santosh Maskar said, “We adopted the solar model to give the message of energy conservation. For last seven years, our society has celebrated the festival using different methods. We instal shadu (natural) clay Ganesh idol to avoid environmental damage.”

“We now have the choice to select an idol which can be kept permanently,” Tanmayee Mehendale, resident of Nrusinha Krupa Society in Sadashiv Peth said. She added, “We have metal (panchdhatu) idol in our society and use it every year. It prevents water pollution. At home, we instal a miniature idol for ‘visarjan’ (immersion) including betel nut and betel leaves next to the idol and immerse those.”

Jaya Mohata, a resident of Nyati Empire, Kharadi, said, “I have been celebrating Ganesh festival with a different theme.  As an architect, I made shadu idol and developed an eco-friendly background for Bappa’s seating at home. I have decorated it with ‘tree plantation’. Both my daughters helped me in making the shadu idol.” 

Kundan Nagar Mitra Mandal, Dapodi celebrated an eco-friendly festival. Working President of the Mandal Jaideep Lunia said, “We organised a workshop for environmental awareness. As many as 130 children made their own shadu idol. Such workshops will help to understand importance of eco-friendly celebrations.”

At Konark Splendour in Vadgaon Sheri, wheat grass was used for decoration and prasad, while all the other handmade decoration, mostly made from paper and wood, will be used for next year’s decoration too, a society member said. 

Housing societies are playing an active role in ensuring eco-friendly ways are followed. There societies are gradually taking steps towards sustainable celebrations in Pune. 

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