Delhi gears up to welcome Lord Ganesha
The Hindu
The Capital has set safety protocols and precautionary measures in place even as devotees prepare to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi
After a gap of two years due to the pandemic, the enthusiasm for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations has revived. Potters from Mayur Vihar in East Delhi to Hauz Rani and Badarpur in South Delhi, are doing brisk sales of idols this season.
“Pottery is our ancestral work and our means of sustenance. COVID-19 threw life out of gear and many of us were forced to take up jobs as security guards and cleaners for our livelihood,” says Dinesh in Badarpur, a potter. “Several idol makers and artisans are back this year,” he adds.
Giving final touches to eco-friendly Ganesha idols usually measuring one to four feet, Raju in Hauz Rani says he is happy with the bulk orders that have come his way from shops in Chhatarpur and Lado Sarai.
The larger idols, typically eight to 11 feet in height, are usually brought to the Capital from Kolkata and Maharashtra and installed in pandals. One of the biggest Ganesh mahotsav in Delhi happens in Lakshmi Nagar. Into its 21 st year, the idol here is referred to as Delhi ka Maharaja.
The Shri Ganesh Sewa Mandal which organises the community puja every year, is known for using environment-friendly products. From tableware to idols, every item used during the celebration is recyclable. For the bhandara prasad, biodegradable crockery made with leaves is used. The mandal has tied up with a tech start-up to convert any plastic item such as water bottles into polyester yarn.
“We believe that serving Mother Nature is akin to pleasing Ganpati Bappa. We use the same 11-foot Ganesh idol from Maharashtra every year for the celebration by performing an environmentally beneficial ritual known as saamuhik visarjan,” says mandal founder president Mahendra Ladda.
“Thousands of devotees who come on the day of immersion, pledge to submerge smaller clay idols at home in tubs and use the water for their plants,” he adds.
Explore the necessity, types, challenges, and potential of bioremediation in India for environmental restoration and public health.
Researchers in India uncover genetic factors linked to early oral cancer onset in tobacco chewers, enhancing cancer prediction and prevention.
Mahindra’s XEV 9S is a modern, family-focused electric SUV with premium design, a spacious tech-rich cabin, refined performance and advanced safety features. Discover variants, pricing and real-world impressions in our detailed review.
Samantha interview: On pickleball, her battles with a rare autoimmune condition and learnings
Experience the thrilling Akkulam Glass Bridge in Thiruvananthapuram, offering stunning views and adventure activities for all ages.
Climate scientists and advocates long held an optimistic belief that once impacts became undeniable, people and governments would act. This overestimated our collective response capacity while underestimating our psychological tendency to normalise, says Rachit Dubey, assistant professor at the department of communication, University of California.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla predicts a transformative decade for India’s space exploration and international collaboration.