For a green cause: 10,000 clay Ganesha idols distributed

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

 The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) distributed 10,000 clay Ganesha idols, containing seeds of medicinal plants at National College Grounds at 3 PM on Sunday.

The event was organized in association with Sri Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha to promote an eco-friendly Ganesha Chaturthi this year. The idols were distributed to public by Tourism Minister Anand Singh, along with scion of erstwhile Mysuru royal family Yuduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.

People from all over the city attended the event to make clay seed ganesha idols. Vani, a housewife from Banshankari said, “I was interested in the idea to made eco-friendly idols. Also, the event is happening on a weekend so I came. They are also providing kits to the people who volunteered. I am happy to work for a good cause.”

Each participant was provided with a kit of 3.5 kg of clay oil, seeds of variety of flowers and medicinal plants.

 “We want to create a record by making more than 10,000 idols this year. There are a lot of people from different schools and colleges also who have come to help us achieve the goal. We have even arranged 20 BMTC buses to bring participants to the venue. We are expecting 1000 people to show up,” said Syed Khaja, Senior official, KSPCB.

 All the Ganesha idols are provided with a bar code to keep a count for the Guinness world record. The KSPCB has also issued instructions to the public and organisers to buy eco-friendly idols which don’t contain any chemicals.

They were instructed to use paper bowls to distribute prasadam and remove garlands before immersing the idols in ponds and lakes. The citizens are also advised to use natural flowers to decorate pandals and idols instead of plastic ones.