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Ganeshotsav Goes Green: Organisations Set Up Clay Collection Centers to Recycle Idols
As the Ganesh festival approaches, efforts to make the celebrations more environmentally friendly are gaining momentum. The Ecoexist Foundation, along with 16 other organisations, has launched a citywide initiative to collect and recycle Shadu Mati (natural clay) idols, reducing the need for fresh clay mining. This drive, known as 'Punaravartan,' encourages devotees to donate their idols after immersion, allowing the clay to be reused by local artists.
Now in its fifth year, the Punaravartan project has made significant progress in promoting eco-friendly idol immersion practices. Last year, the campaign collected 20,000 kg of clay, and this year, the organisers are aiming even higher, with a goal to collect 50 tons of clay across Maharashtra.
Manisha Sheth, founder of the Ecoexist Foundation, explained the project's growth: “The campaign was first initiated in Pune, and after receiving approval from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, it is now being replicated in other cities across the state.” The cities currently participating in the Punaravartan campaign include Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thane, Sangli, Aurangabad, Sawantwadi, Mahad, and Panvel.
To facilitate the collection, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has endorsed the campaign by providing dedicated immersion tank locations where the clay sludge from the idols can be gathered and recycled. Sheth emphasized the importance of such efforts in reducing the environmental impact of the festival: “By encouraging people to donate their clay idols, we are ensuring that this sacred material can be returned to the artists, reducing the demand for new clay and promoting sustainable celebrations.”
Volunteers will be positioned at 60 different locations in the city on Sunday, September 15, to collect the idols and clay. This year, the drive aims to gather 50 tons of Shadu Mati, which will be redistributed to artists for future use in crafting idols for the next Ganeshotsav. This initiative reflects a growing consciousness about the environmental toll of traditional celebrations and highlights how communities can come together to make meaningful changes.
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