Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad

Ganesh Visarjana in Hyderabad

Hyderabad for over nearly three decades now, has emerged as a major centre for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. There's a large community of artisans in Dhoolpet and adjoining areas that depends for its livelihood, on making idols of Lord Ganesh for the festival and start making them months ahead.

This year, they seem to be unsure whether to use synthetic colours in making the idols, as they have doing traditionally or comply with the State Government's directives and use herbal colours, intead. The demand, as always is huge--at least 15,000 Ganesha idols have to be made for the festival in September, if not more. The State Government's directive on using herbal colours is meant to prevent water bodies from getting polluted. Artisans say herbal colours are not easy to get and what is available is of inferior quality. Artisans apparently have no problem using herbal colours, but do face a problem when it comes to procuring them. The truth, as all of us do know, is that water bodies do get polluted to indescribable extent on account of the immersion of thousands of idols. All of us need to do our little bit to make the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi more eco-friendly and 'organic'. The least the government can do is make organic, non-toxic colours available to the artisans through organizations like the National Green Corps.

See also:

Hyderabad artisans mull over use of herbal colours on Ganesha idols