DNA POSITIVE: Borivali mandal bids Bappa bye in 5-foot tank

Setting the perfect example for new, ecologically harmonious visarjan, a sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal in Borivali immersed their idol within their premises, using sodium bicarbonate to dissolve the Plaster of Paris (PoP).

In doing so, the Phulpakahru Kalakrida Sanskrutik Sanstha broke their 14-year-long tradition of immersing the idol in Dahisar river, but started a new, evolved one for other like-minded mandals to follow.

The organisers carried out the visarjan in a five-feet deep metallic tank on Thursday night next to the pandal where the Lord sat, refraining not only from polluting a natural water body, but also consciously not adding to the chaos and congestion on roads, which inconveniences so many Mumbaikars.

Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), which represents 11,000 sarvajanik Ganesh mandals in Mumbai said that Phulpakahru Kalakrida Sanskrutik Sanstha was the first sarvajanik mandal to do something like this. "I am very happy someone finally took this step," he said. "It will encourage others and we are also requesting BMC to promote this concept."

Rahul Salvi, president of the sanstha based in Magathane, says the idea was suggested by their chief advisor Vikram Chogle during a meeting. "To be honest," he says, "all of us were initially shocked. Our mandal even held two to three more meetings to discuss this, but when Chogle showed us images of broken and defaced idols lying in the Dahisar river pond inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the site where we carry out immersion, everyone unanimously agreed to his idea."

Chogle, who is a local BJP leader and an active member of the citizen's movement River March, said convincing people about the idea was only part of the challenge; the bigger task was to come up with a proper immersion solution. "A five-feet-deep tank was set up out right outside the main stage," he said, "and we carefully studied using sodium bicarbonate to dissolve the PoP idol.

This method is used in Nashik and Pune, which leaves behind ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate sludge. This former is a good fertilizer that will be utilised in our community gardens, while the sludge will be poured into a pit in the garden."

Till last year, it would take the mandal seven to eight hours to traverse two kilometres to the immersion site. "We used all the money usually spent on booking trucks, music and other accompaniments to organize a dinner for local residents," he said. "Next year, we will utilise the money to help needy students and try to get an idol made of paper pulp."

Their one move has inspired many around them — housing complexes and smaller mandals in Borivali are seeking guidance on how to replicate this model.