Even as the artists give final touches to Ganesha idols, members of CMCA (Children's Movement for Civic Awareness) in Dharwad are busy distributing pamphlets on the counter-effects of worshipping chemical painted gods. Fellow students, teachers, traders… all are enlightened. Their objective is clear; keep Gowri-Ganesh, the most popular festival, away from pollution.

Last year, Ganesha festival was unique for Preeti, a student of Navaloor High School near Dharwad. A member of CMCA club, she was able to convince her parents and seven other neighbours to buy unpainted clay Ganesha idols. She and Shakuntala, frontrunners of the campaign in the village, were beaming as they explained. "Each of us have spread awareness among six to seven other families. Parents and village elders initially opposed us. Some of our friends even got beatings. But we didn't stop. Now, around 200 of the total 300 idols worshipped in the village are unpainted. Others immerse them in buckets and water drums. Three lakes in the village breathe fresh even during the festive season. There is no Plaster of Paris Ganesha in the village."

They also have the credit of reducing pollution due to crackers, with which even parents are happy. Now the cracker expense per child has come down from Rs 50 to Rs 5. Students have requested the shop owners to bring limited stock of mild crackers next year.

The campaign to use unpainted Ganesha was initiated in 2002 by 'Kriyasheela Geleyaru', an environmental forum in the city. The very first year, there were no takers for the idea, as the belief that colourful Ganeshas are more auspicious was rooted deep in the minds of people. Founder of 'Kriyasheela Geleyaru' and environmentalist Mukund Maigur, who led the campaign, didn't give up. He and his friends placed five such idols in their houses. Maigur gave lectures in various schools and used social platforms to reach the public. He also consulted religious scholars to substantiate the message that nowhere in the tradition is coloured Ganesha said to be more propitious.

Crafts-men had inhibitions initially. They were also worried about the profit margin. But when Maigur was ready to buy the simple clay idol at the cost of a painted one, they were relieved. In 2003, he had 25 idols for sale but the demand rose to 50. Since then, every year, the number has been on the rise. Last year 2,000 idols were exhibited in his house, of which only one remained.

Convincing public groups was not as easy as influencing individual households. It was Bhagini Nivedita School in Navanagar that initiated the ritual by opting for a natural coloured clay idol. The school has been continuing with the practice since then and has influenced others in the area too. Now, more than 30 schools in Dharwad perform pooja to eco-friendly Ganesha.

Eco-friendly immersion

Though steady, changing public mindset proved to be a slow process. To reduce the damage to nature until then, a unique plan for Ganesha immersion was chalked out. The message was publicized through pamphlets and the media. Later, on the days of immersion, volunteers, mostly college students, went to different parts of the city with water drums in tractors. Six years back, it was a revolutionary idea for the people here. Seven tractors went door to door facilitating easy, eco-friendly immersion. In the meantime, volunteers also explained the need for such an action and also the importance of opting for a clay model.

Now each truck has three drums - one for colourless-clay idols, another for chemical painted Ganeshas and the last one for Plaster of Paris Ganesha idols. Mukund Maigur is in discussion with the Municipality for the safe disposal of harmful Plaster of Paris Ganeshas, which don't dissolve in water.

Now, after six years, we see more and more families and apartments opting for Ganesha immersion in buckets, drums and temporary constructions than in natural water sources like wells and tanks. The Government promoted campaigns through advertisements and documentaries in various media have also helped spread the message.

Artists, worst sufferers

Though idol making is their passion and profession, paints make life worse for artists. Most of those in the profession are suffering from ailments, most common of which is asthma. Manjunath Hiremath, a known sculptor who is in the profession for the last 17 years, has dumped oil paints and is using less concentrated water colours. He says, "Once we colour the idol, we have to clean our face, particularly nostrils, using kerosene. Imagine its impact on our health!"

Lead and arsenic content is less in water colours. He says if people insist on shining idols he is forced to apply varnish over paint. This year, he has five orders for natural coloured idols. He has also discovered a unique design of hollow idols, which are easily soluble and require only a small quantity of clay. If a four feet Ganapa requires 160 kg of clay for the conventional design, his design requires only 60 kg.
Plaster of Paris idols are harmful to nature and are also a bane to idol makers. Hence the campaign has urged a ban on Plaster of Paris models.

Students take it high

Every year, the campaign starts a month ahead of the festival. Workshops, expert lectures, jathas and door to door visits are some of the activities to create a favourable environment. School children, particularly CMCA, have played a significant role in the entire process like any other undertaking of 'Kriyasheela Geleyaru' which works closely with children and youth.

Mukund Maigur conducted workshops to enlighten children about the ill-effects of an oil-painted idol. Once the message was sown in young minds, they took it to hundreds of families. Every year, this campaign costs them around Rs 30,000, which is borne by the members themselves.

Savitha Kadam, a volunteer who has been working with six schools, says that they slowly build up environment consciousness in children through various activities. The CMCA club consisting of 50 students from classes 8 and 9 extends knowledge to other students.

This year, the campaign has a target of 5,000 idols. Similar attempts would help show that Ganesha festival is not just to make merry, but to show that we care for nature too.

Holy Ganesha and toxic paints

Shining paints which make the Ganesha look attractive have a direct impact on human health. Children are the most vulnerable. Lead and arsenic are the major contents of these paints. These chemicals harm almost every system in the body. Dr Anand Pandurangi, renowned psychiatrist, explains in one phrase - 'Lead destroys mind'. Lead causes irreversible neurological damage. When immersed in lakes, wells and seas, our water sources get polluted and the aqauatic life gets disturbed. In any case, the impact will be on human health. Arsenic, known to be a chronic poison, is carcinogenic.

These ill-effects are preventable. Opting for natural clay Ganesha idols, eco-friendly colours, vegetable dyes and small sized idols would be perfect. Those who cannot overcome the urge for shiny, glossy idols should prefer water coloured clay idols and immerse them in buckets or temporary tanks.

For details contact: Mukund Maigur - 9448822199