Idol in Malad to add spice to Ganesh festival

Amid the debate this Ganesh festival about the use of eco-friendly clay idols versus the use of traditional plaster-of-paris (POP) idols, a Malad-based Ganesh mandal has come up with a unique offering. The Shri Sai Darshan Mitra Mandal in Malad (west) has made a Ganpati idol made of an assortment of Indian spices. It’s nine-feet tall and weighs 190 kg.

Following its own tradition of making unique idols, this mandal has taken things towards an environment-friendly direction this year, keeping in mind its motive of spreading awareness about the ecology among devotees.

The members of this mandal who make the idols usually begin working on them 40 days before the festival starts. Mitesh Narsani, one of the members, said, “The idea behind making an idol with Indian spices is that spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and clove are the identity of Indian food. These ingredients are also heavily exported. So, in a way, we are portraying Indian culture in its true sense.”

This is the first year that the mandal has decided to go eco-friendly in such a manner, even though it has been making unique idols since 2006. Last year, the mandal used a POP idol and immersed it like it does according to tradition. When the mandal first started making unique idols back in 2006, its aim was to attract children. In 2001, the members had made a chocolate Ganesh idol and in 2012 they made an idol out of toy cars. They have also made an idol out of pencils and other stationery, such as erasers shaped like footballs.

This year, the mandal has used about 9 kg of clove, 20 kg of cinnamon, 6 kg of cardamom, 2 kg of chilly and 1 kg of mustard seeds, with newspapers holding the 190-kg idol together.

Mr Marsani said, “We celebrate the 10-day-long festival and we will immerse this idol in the sea, as is the tradition. Only, this time, we will not be causing any pollution.”