Schools for a low-key festival

Several schools in the city and suburbs are setting an example to various mandals on celebrating Ganeshotsav in a moderate way without much fanfare. City schools urge other mandals to hold a low-key celebration.

Padmakar Damdare School at Hindu colony has taken the festival one step ahead by making it a school project. “Teachers narrate stories about the God and students interpret the meaning.

 We teach them that big is not better. God doesn’t bless only those who celebrate in a big way,” said Geeta Ragamani, principal of the school.

The new age school at Vile Parle, Tridha, is keeping more than 50 idols. “Every student in standard III made a clay idol themselves. The idols are small and each child has to take care of their idol.

The idols are immersed in a small handi by students on seventh day. This teaches them that size and fanfare do not matter,” said Hemangi Ghosh, art and craft teacher at Tridha.

“We had a workshop for students by the Aniruddha Trust on eco-friendly decorations and idols. We brought an idol made of paper pulp which we will be immersed after removing all the garlands,” said Shubhada Vinekar, principal, Manik Vidyamandir, Bandra.

Podar College at Matunga has also set up a two-feet idol at the auditorium with decorations made out of natural resources rather than plastic.

“We have the tradition of celebrating the festival since the establishment of the college. The focus this year will be on preserving nature and cause least amount of inconvenience to others,” said Vivek Gudla, student secretary, Podar college.