Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Here Is Why We Need To Use An Eco-Friendly Ganesha Idol

When you are busy making preparations for Ganesha Chaturthi, one important thing to consider is to choose an eco-friendly Ganesha idol.

The regular ones that are widely available are made of plaster of Paris. Though they look attractive and affordable, there is a reason to choose eco-friendly idols. They won't harm your health or the environment. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 31 August.

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As idols are generally immersed in water, using boo-degradable materials would be a safer bet in the big picture. Materials like clay or paper are comparatively better than the widely used materials like plaster of Paris.

Clay idols don't harm the environment and they degrade faster when immersed in water. Even if you don't know how to make an eco-friendly Ganesha idol, you can buy them in some select outlets.

Why Use An Eco-Friendly Ganesha

Water Pollution Can Be Prevented
Materials like plaster of Paris may pollute water. As they contain chemicals that may turn the waters acidic, it is dangerous for aquatic life. Also, polluted water when consumed by humans can be life-threatening.

Harmful Chemicals
Plaster of Paris contains many chemicals like Sulphur, Phosphorous, Gypsum, Magnesium etc; and the colours and paints used to decorate the idol contain carbon, lead and many more chemicals. When an idol is immersed in a water body, the life forms will get affected first. And when we eat the fish from that lake, we too get affected severely.

Lung Damage
Some dyes and glitters used to decorate the idol emit some gases and when we inhale them, it may affect our lungs.

Using bio-degradable materials is the key to protecting the environment and protecting ourselves. Life needs the right balance and when human beings disturb the balance of the ecosystem, the effects could harm human beings too. Therefore, let us enjoy this festival more by spreading awareness about protecting nature.