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Eco Ganesha Idol making workshop Report- 3^rd August 2012

To celebrate Ganesha festival in eco- friendly manner & to spread awareness regarding this, a special workshop of Eco-Ganesha Idol Making was organised on the 3rd of August 2012 by the Young Environmentalists programme trust in association with Rodas, Ecotel, Powai & ENVIS, Environment Department, Government of Maharashtra.

This interactive art workshop was held in Rodas Ecotel, Powai. Around 400 children from 25 different schools participated in this workshop. Expertise from the Young Environmentalists programme trust taught the students how to make Eco-Ganesha Idol, for this clay from the Mithi River and silt from the Powai Lake were used. Each participant was provided with clay. To encourage their hard work, small award ceremony was carried out at the end of the event. First, Second & Third Prizes were given to the Best Eco-Ganesha idols which were decorated with eco colours and eco decorations. Mr. Avinash Sawant- Powai Corporator, Ms. Archana Shirke- project Officer, ENVIS, Mr. Daniel Chatterton- Executive Assistant Manager, Rodas, actresses Megha Israni, Rashmi Sawant and Chaya Ali Khan of Nature Homestay Tours, Narayana Pardeshi- Artist inaugurated the workshop.

The exhibition of informative Stalls was also the part of event which included Stalls from ENVIS Centre, Culture Aangan Holidays & TrueGreen. At the Stall of ENVIS Centre, the ENVIS team disseminated information regarding the centre, its working and the Newsletters were displayed. Brochures of the ENVIS centre comprising detail information of ENVIS website & selective Newsletters were distributes during the event. While Culture Aangan Holidays spread the awareness regarding Eco-tourism and TrueGreen stall was about 100% biodegradable & compostable carry bags & other products.

All the participants made Eco-Ganesh idols using clay and decorative materials like water colour, cereals, pulses, leaves, flowers, vegetables, cardboard etc. in creative & innovative way. A student of DG Ketan School, Vinay Kariwala, bagged the first prize for making the best eco-friendly idol at the workshop. Harshada Subhash of D J Gurukul School won the second prize, while Tanvi Naram from Children’s Academy got the third prize. A special appreciation award was presented to Nikita Tompe of Children's Academy School. Artist Narayana Pardeshi got the lifetime achievement award. Project Worksheet & certificates were given to all the students to motivate them and in turn will surely teach them to save our beaches, lakes, rivers and environment during festivals.

With this experience, we can definitely state that, this art/practical medium not only inspires the youth and students but also educates them in effective manner regarding environment. Therefore rather than using a preaching method this method of clay therapy and art involving fun proves to be quite insightful to the students.

Expert’s Views –
Elsie Gabriel, founder of the Young Environmentalists Explains “ Although last year a court order of some kind did request idol makers and artisans as well as faithfuls to turn green and do away with the plaster of Paris and fluorescently bright chemical painted idols it is still not fully established. POP idols which are known to cause environmental hazards can not be fully done away with, without an alternative. Therefore instead of preaching to our elders it is wise to teach our next generation to celebrate eco friendly festivals.” Adds Gabriel further, idols made by students can also taken home by them in order to multiply the messages to their families, of going green during the Ganesha festival.”Although the present generation will find the famous multicoloured idols of the object of their devotions a little less brighter, it is good to make smaller and more earthy idols which dissolve in water. It is also a known fact that our ancestors used river clay and bagicha mud to create Ganesh idols is the yester years before going commercial.

Valsa Nair Singh, Secretary, Environment department stated “ENVIS at Environment Department has been spreading environment awareness in all sections of the society. We are interacting with all stakeholders for eco-friendly celebration of the festival and issued guidelines for this. Events like these will definitely helps to build environment literate society"

Mr. Daniel Chatterton, Executive Assistant Manager of Rodas ecotel Powai, Adds “We have been hosting Eco Ganpati workshops for the last 7 years now where by we involve the community in not only going green in travels but also going green with all festivals.”Young Environmentalists are sure that with each passing year, it is only a matter of time and patience that faithfuls will turn green and understand Mother Earths need to save her water bodies more sooner than later. It will surely become a policy making decision by the government once all stake holders like artists and Ganesh mandals as well as elders understand the component of the POP idols.Here at our event people literally feel the earth, mould it and create the idol with their own hands .What better way than this interactive method in creating environmental awareness.

Photo Gallery Related to Event:

Inauguration of the Event