Turning garlands into manure

Devotees are finally taking steps to keep the environment clean and the city green by composting the floral offerings made to Lord Ganesha every day during the 10-day festival.

The floral offerings tend to become a problem when they start decaying. Devotees often discard them into the sea or under trees. A few even place them in the Nirmalay Kalashes put up by the municipal corporation at the immersion spots.

“Putting the garlands and flowers in Nirmalay Kalashes mostly happens on the last day of immersion. We put flowers  in composts daily in our societies,” said Shyamala Kelkar, 72, and resident of Jogeshwari. He has been  composting flowers for the past three years.

“The decaying flowers turn into manure, which tends to give better nourishment to the trees,” said Viren Merchant, a resident of Ghatkopar.

The idea clicks with other residents too. “Every day around one-and-a-half kg of floral offering is generated at my home. After the puja, I take the flowers for vermin-composting. In 40 days we get manure which is better than fertilisers and plants actually grow faster,” said Prakash Barsikar, who is now 65.