PM Modi bats for an eco-friendly Ganesh Utsav and Durga Puja

Expressing concern over the issue of rising pollution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the nation to celebrate Ganesh Utsav and Durga Puja in an eco-friendly way.

Addressing the nation in the 23rd edition of his Mann Ki Baat programme, Prime Minister Modi said, "Lot of people are writing about Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja vis-a-vis the environment, showing their concern over pollution. Why should we not go back to our tradition of using clay for making idols? It will help the environment as well."

Prime Minister Modi said the Ganesh idols must be made of clay and not Plaster of Paris.

"Clay is eco-friendly, unlike Plaster of Paris, and we must go back to clay for sculpting idols of Ganesh and Durga," he added.

Ganesh Utsav or Chaturthi will be celebrated in the first week of September, while Durga Puja will be observed from October 7 to 11 this year.