After eco-Holi, youths launch Green Ganpati campaign

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
 —Mahatma Gandhi

There are many individuals who dream of making a change, but only a few are determined enough to actually get together and make a difference. Gyaan Connect (GC) is a group of spirited, not-so-like-minded individuals restless to revolutionise things around them.

“GC is born out of a strong conviction shared between four individuals. We want to change the chalta hai attitude,”says Namrata Sagar who is a media graduate and an active member of the team.

While celebrating any festival, people are these days more aware and try being eco-friendly in their own way. For instance, instead of the traditional clay and plaster of Paris (POP) Ganpati idols, people are now opting for unbaked natural clay, natural fibre, and even recycled paper.

With Ganesh Chaturthi—one of the most lavishly and joyously celebrated festivals—around the corner, the next campaign of this group is about the irresponsible usage of materials that are potentially disastrous for the environment and have diminished the purity associated with the festival. They also want to spread awareness about the indifference towards safe disposal of the waste created during immersion, which leaves the beaches in a wrecked state.

Namrata explains, “We want to encourage people to celebrate festivals, but be more responsible and caring towards the environment, though without compromising on the thrill associated with them.”

The campaign will be divided into three phases. The pre-festival awareness phase will involve members going door-to-door and talking to families that get Ganesh idols at home. “We will educate them about the harmful effects of using thermocol
decorations and inform them about safe disposal of garbage during visarjan,”
continues Namrata.

Then will then be present on the immersion day at various venues and volunteer to take the used flowers and offerings from people and dispose them safely at the nirmalayas installed by the civic body. The final phase is the post immersion cleanliness drive where volunteers will gather and help clean up beaches after the last immersion day.

“Our primary objective is to encourage the use of eco-friendly Ganesh idols, decorations, and most importantly, safe and environmentally conscious immersion during the Ganesh festival,” says Yashesh Trivedi, an active member of the team.

Some of the events organised by the group in the past are eco-friendly Holi celebrations, spreading awareness about harmful effects of chemical Holi colours, saving water during Holi and encouraging the use of natural and safe colours. They celebrated the festival by procuring 100% natural colours made out of haldi, palak, chandan etc.