It’s been six years since the Times Green Ganesha campaign was first launched. Although the numbers of people who have actually take action over the years are small, they are nevertheless growing. The biggest challenge is reaching out the masses and Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor was roped in this year as the campaign was launched ahead of the festival of Ganesha at the Lala Lajpatrai College in Mumbai, India on September 4.
Shahid Kapoor launches Times Green Ganesha Campaign in Mumbai
He was welcomed eagerly by the eco-aware students of the college who turned out to be big fans. And although he spent most of his time there promoting his upcoming film “Phata Poster Nikhla Hero”, he said it was only so to grab people’s attention so that they would then listen to the important message of installing eco-friendly Ganesh idols and adopting eco-friendly immersion techniques.
Shahid Kapoor at Times Green Ganesha Campaign in Mumbai
Eco- friendly Ganesh idols are made of mud and clay, colored with natural food dyes made of turmeric or dried flowers. Everything used to make an eco-friendly Ganesh idol will dissolve harmlessly in water over a short period of time. Regular plaster-of-Paris idols tend to just sit at the bottom of the river after the idol is immersed (often for years), the chemicals polluting underwater life and making the water uninhabitable for fish. Several rivers in India which are popular for Ganesha immersions have seen masses of dead fish rise to the surface every year.
Shahid Kapoor at Times Green Ganesha Campaign
You can do your bit for the environment by installing an eco-friendly Ganesh idol, easily available at both retail outlets and online.
Shahid Kapoor 2013
In Mumbai last year, the message of responsibility seems to have gotten through as about 700 mandals used eco-friendly Ganesh idols as well as decorations, and 200 societies did the same. Here’s hoping that those numbers will increase exponentially this year.
Shahid Kapoor 2013 pictures
Image: IANS