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With Ganeshotsav just over a month away, preparations for the festival have already begun. While deeply rooted in tradition and devotion, the usage of PoP idols and plastic decor items has often brought the festival in the middle of environmental concerns. However, growing awareness around sustainability has driven a significant shift towards eco-friendly Ganpati idols over the last few years.

Crafted from natural and biodegradable materials like clay, red soil, paper mache, or even cow dung, these idols dissolve easily and harmlessly in water. Some innovative designs even incorporate seeds, allowing a plant to grow from the dissolved idol, symbolising new life and growth. If you’re considering buying an eco-friendly Ganpati idol for your celebrations this year, here are few options you can consider.

Panchagavya Ganesha
“Panchagavya Ganpati idols are made with a mix of cow dung, gomutra, curd, milk and ghee,” shares Nutan Shailaja of Sanskruti, a group that creates eco-friendly idols, adding that eco-friendly idols like these prevent the release of toxic chemicals into water, preserving aquatic ecosystems and ensuring the purity of our water resources. They also contribute to healthier soil when immersed in gardens or artificial tanks.
“I am using alluvial soil as it is ecofriendly and a strong mixture for holding idols together,” says Abhijit Dhondphale, a sculptor from the city who also uses red clay, shadu clay and rice bran mixture for creating Ganpati Idols. “Embracing eco-friendly Ganpati idols isn’t just about environmental responsibility, but also about reconnecting with the traditional essence of the festival, emphasising the reverence for nature,” he adds.

Handmade paper and cloth pulp idols
Specially made from cotton rags and handmade paper mache, the Ganpati idols made at the Pune Handmade Papers Institute can be a quirky and eco-friendly addition to your celebration. The paper mache idols are fully recyclable, lightweight and sturdy. The material canbe remoulded and reused after immersion as well.


Ditch the PoP idols for better alternatives
Manisha Sheth from eCoexist, a company that has been making eco-friendly Ganpati idols for years, shares, “Our efforts have always been about looking for alternative materials to PoP and chemical paints. Smaller artists are increasingly exploring different biodegradable materials which do not pollute the environment. We offer seven types of designs from fresh clay and recycled clay idols, to paper mache and hand-sculpted idols. The idols are painted using natural colours made from mineral soils or vegetable pigments.” One can also opt for miniatures coming from Maharashtra and Karnataka.