Mumbai: Eight-feet cardboard Ganapati in Malad's Raipada Mitra Mandap

Members of Raipada Mitra Mandap in Malad have made an eight-feet Ganpati idol with just cardboard this year.

"This is in continuity with our decision to have only eco-friendly idols. We decided around 12 years ago to switch to eco-friendly idols and have stuck by it this year as well," said Sandeep Birvatkar, Secretary, Raipada Mitra Mandal in Malad (west). The mandal has been celebrating Ganeshotsav for the past 32 years.

"It took us around 45 days to give it shape," said Siddant Naik, who made the idol. About 20 kg of cardboard was used to make the idol. "We did not have enough raw material with us so we had to purchase it. Also, new cardboard was required to make the idol, or else we would have recycled that too. The colour used is also eco-friendly," said Birvatkar.

This year, the mandal also switched to smaller idols keeping in mind the problems faced during immersion. "This year our Ganpati's height is eight feet; it was 10 feet last year," added Birvatkar.