IE : IITB alumni mould clay, teach eco-friendly idol making : Sept 6. 2007
IITB alumni mould clay, teach eco-friendly idol making
Workshop kicks off; small, clay Ganpati idols are best for environment, say
volunteers
Nitya Kaushik
Mumbai, September 05: Cynics frowned and the unconvinced speculated. But
unfazed by the skepticism, the alumni of IIT Bombay explained the advantages
of “taking from the earth and returning to it” to children, while creating
attractive Ganesh idols, as they kicked off the eco-friendly Ganpati
workshop on Wednesday.
The workshop – Nav Srujan Ganesh Mahotsav 2007 – is an initiative by the
1980 batch of IITB, the Save Powai Lake team, Shakti Ladies Club and NGO
Vidya, in an effort to save the Powai lake from pollution
“Plaster of Paris murtis is a new concept that has caught up in Mumbai,”
said Chetali Gupta, the brainchild of the initiative. She added, “In Bengal
and Tamil Nadu, people still make the idols out of clay from their backyards
and later return it to the yards.”
Gupta exercised a simple seven-step method of making Ganpati idols before
participating schools including the IIT Campus School, Kendriya Vidyalaya,
Hiranandani Foundation School, Bombay Scottish School, and some municipal
schools from Mulund and Powai. The steps include making the stomach, face
and trunk, hands, legs, colouring and designing with a cone. “With seven
steps, the children find it easy to learn. The most attractive part is
colouring the idol with geru (red or yellow earth).”
And the kids were very enthusiastic. Madhu Bagul (12) of IIT Campus School
was thrilled as she rolled up a fist full of soil, which was earlier
collected by Gupta from the banks of Powai lake.
After 20 minutes of solitude she returned with a petite two-inch idol. “My
Ganpati does not have a mouse, he has a sheesh naag (seven-headed snake)
over his head,” she beamed. Bagul resolved to bring home a clay Ganpati this
festival.
The Nav Srujan group educated people about the advantages of having small
idols. “We know it’s difficult to convince the people, but small idols
dissolve sooner. Favourable sizes are 3 inch or 7-8 inch which can be sold
for for Rs 30 and Rs 50 respectively,” said a volunteer.
Meanwhile, a visitor said, “I appreciate the concept, but I wonder if the
public will take to a clay idols. There is such a ceremony involved in
bringing Ganpati home in Mumbai. How will clay Ganpati with geru colour have
the same effect?”
Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 1; Date : 6/9/07
URl : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=254711