I always bring an idol that easily dissolves in water: Shilpa Shirodkar

My in-laws have been bringing Ganpati home for 40 odd years. I have my mannat ka Ganpati made of gold, which I bring out every Ganesh Chaturthi, do a proper aarati and visarjan and keep it in the cupboard. It is seven years since I have been having this Ganpati. It was a mannat I made for my sister's (Namrata) son Gautam. He is eight-years-old.

We always host the Lord for one-and-a-half days. This year too on 29th we had a pooja, invited friends and relatives and made everything possible – all the sweets that Ganpati likes. The earlier day my husband went to Dadar to pick up flowers for the decoration. Our Ganpati is very simple and homely like you would find in a Marathi household – we don't do too much lighting or decoration. However, we make sure his sinhasasan is made of four stools – that is the tradition.

I am all for DNA's initiative to promote eco-friendly Ganesha. In fact, even I make it a point to get an idol that easily dissolves in water. My daughter is part of a school drive to clean the city after Ganpati bids adieu. She told me it is really sad to see the way the idol's feet and hands are strewn around. People bring home the God with so much love but fail to take after care. Eco-friendly Ganesha not only helps the environment, but also gives due respect to the Lord.