Ganesh Chaturthi is a wonderful festival celebrated for 10 days to
worship Lord Ganesha. It is a time to bask in the festivities and fun. 10 whole
days of family, friends, sweets, good food, prayers, and gifts, until the Ganesha
idol is immersed in water on the last day.
Unfortunately, many of the festivities we do can lead to immense
harm to nature and the environment. A festival that celebrates righteousness,
virtue, morals, prosperity and blessings should not lead to harmful effects to
our Earth.
These are a few reasons why we should opt for eco-conscious.
● Idols – Every year, a large number of Ganesha idols are immersed
in the lakes, ponds and seas. Since these idols are made of toxic chemical colours
and plaster of Paris it causes significant harm to the water bodies and marine
life. It is crucial to go for eco friendly ganpati idols to save the
Earth. Go for clay ones with organic colours.
● Noise pollution – Music is wonderful but excessive amount of noise can cause disturbances to schools,
hospitals, neighbors etc. Try to be considerate and stop the music by 10 p.m.
● Plastic – With a plethora of yummy foods and sweets everywhere,
the use of plastic to serve them can become problematic. Opt for eco-friendly
options like banana leaves instead.
● Energy consumption- Festivals call for lights. As beautiful as
they look, too many lights can lead to over-consumption of energy. Exchange heavy
lights for CFL lights which require
lesser electricity and money.
This is why it is so important to consider being eco-friendly this
festive season. We can still enjoy and celebrate a wonderful Ganesh Chaturthi
while being mindful about our choices.
