Ganesh Chaturthi Goes Green At Omved

Thu, 03/04/2010

Omved continues with their “GREEN FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS” by reviving the age-old tradition of molding Ganpati idols out of earth for Ganesh Chaturthi. Following the phenomenal success of its Herbal Holi colors (different from just non-toxic, these were actually made according to tradition from flowers, fruits and herbs only!) Omved has handcrafted biodegradable, eco-friendly Ganesh idols made from natural or earthen terra-cotta and painted using only natural non-toxic dyes.

According to the Puranas Shree Gauri moulded Ganesha from clay and breathed life into him. From prana pratishtha/jagran to visarjan, the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration depicts the circle of life - human bodies take birth, live, then die, just as each year idols are created from earth and infused with energy through shraddha and human touch of the sculptor followed by the bhakti of the devotees only to be returned to the elements, to be reborn again the next year.

The Vedic tradition was of making ‘shaadu’ (natural clay) idols painted with non-toxic colors. People used to immerse these idols in their private wells and village ponds. Omved calls for a return to this age-old tradition and offers eco-friendly, biodegradable Ganesha idols handcrafted using pure (lead-free) earthen or natural terra-cotta (shaadu maati) and painted with non-toxic environmentally-friendly colors. The idols will be available in sixteen designs at a M.R.P averaging around Rs 600.

To recreate the symbolic cycle of creation and dissolution in nature, one can immerse the idol with reverence in a bucket of water, which when the terra-cotta dissolves, can be used to nourish plants.

This celebration follows their eco-friendly Holi one, in the hope to motivate people to go green by increasing awareness about the after effects of non-biodegradable idol immersions and toxic chemical colors. The dream is that this will have a ripple effect and eventually create the necessary awareness in going eco friendly in all areas of life.

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