Clay Ganesha idols price hits through the roof

Hyderabad: With each passing year, clay Ganesha idols are gaining popularity but are beyond the reach of the common man. “Ganesh idols made of clay that have seeds inside them are placed in pots and then watered to let the seeds grow,” said SreePuja, a psychologist who came up with this idea, and teaches students to prepare clay Ganesha. 

Five years ago Hyderabad Go Green started this process of preparing clay Ganesha to save the environment, Kavitha Mantha cofounder of Sage organic, previously known as Hyderabad Go Green said that “Every year we sell around 150 idols of various sizes from 10 inches to 5 feet and this year Sage organic prepared 150 idols have been sold. Society for Awareness Vision on Environment (SAVE) in coordination with Emerald Mithai Shop started selling clay Ganesha and also distributing free clay and they also give free khadi dhoti, Kanduva, Jute bag with clay idol to promote handmade khadi to the people whoever comes to their shop.

Vijay Ram founder of Emerald Mithai Shop said, “This is to save initiative to preserve city lakes, environment and also to aware people not to use POP, the clay Ganesha idol contains bamboo, jute, dry grass and clay. There are no harmful chemicals or colors, with the aim of save to work towards an eco-friendly Ganesha festival thus making Hyderabad a model for other places in India.

Purpose of giving jute bags is to promote the concept of “Carry own bag to market” to avoid polythene carry bags and to minimise disposable waste generation in Ganesh festival and in idol immersion process. We ensure that customers who visit our shop should carry cloth or jute bag and avail a discount of Rs 10 to Rs 20 on the purchase of sweets, cloth bags are being given at subsidized price to encourage reuse of carrying bags, Vijay Ram added. Save is making arrangements to prepare clay idols in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Warangal, Vikarabad, Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore.

BY Mohammed Hussain