Seventy-nine-year-old SP Shukla had been making his own Ganpati idols until age caught up four years ago. However, that did not dampen the spirit of this retired chemical engineer to continue making heavier clay idols rather than plaster of Paris ones. A resident of Chembur, Shukla is among those who celebrated Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner much before it caught the city's fancy.
"As a child, we used to have eco-friendly idols in our Kolhapur home because my father cared about the environment," said Shukla. After he moved to the city, he started buying clay from Kumbharwada to make his own idol.
"As per the shastras, we are supposed to take soil from the riverbanks and immerse it in the river again. Today, it has become a commercial function. Earlier, community Ganpatis were a platform for children to show their talents in painting, dancing, and elocution. I don't see that any more," said Shukla, who makes his idol a simple affair.
However, the Mhatres in Vikhroli, who got an eco-friendly Ganpati for the 79th year in a row, make it a grand affair. This year, their Ganpati has donned the Khandoba avatar. "We have always made sure that our Ganpati was eco-friendly. We feel it is our duty to ensure they do not damage the environment," said Harshada Mhatre.
Made almost six months ago, the idol dons the Mawli-style headgear and sits on a chair, as if governing a courtroom. It is commonly known as Malhar Murti. "We wanted to give a royal courtyard look," said Mhatre. Last year, the family had a Ganpati sitting in the midst of Shiv lings.
Then, there's the Mores from Neral. Binal More, 24, and her cousins have taken it upon themselves to continue the 55-year tradition of bringing eco-friendly Ganpati idols, which was started by her grandfather, and then continued by her father.
"Both my grandfather and father used to work in Indian Railways and were nature lovers. They used to plant trees, and thought of reducing the harm they cause to nature by all means. My grandfather started this tradition to bring the whole family together at least once a year. This time, we kept the idol for one-and-a-half days and immersed it in a local dam," said Binal.
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