Offer Lord Ganesh a clean environment!

As part of our Safe festivals campaign, Kalpavriksh has started work on the festiavl of Ganesh Chaturthi this year in a drive to make the festival more eco sensitive. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals of central India. This celebration that offers worship to Lord Ganesha also became a symbol of the revival of Indian culture and unity when it was used by the renowned freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his rebellio against the British Raj.

However, in recent times this festival has been taken over by local politics and one upmanship, leading to larger and larger Ganesh idols being immersed in water bodies. This causes serious damage to ecosystems and wildlife species of these water bodies, besides bringing disease to those who drink this water.

Several groups in Pune have been working towards a reform of this festival to a safer and more ecosensitive celebration. Kalpavriksh has also contributed to the campaign this year by creating posters in English and Marathi, that graphically depcit the damage being done. In collaboration with the Center for Science and Environment, posters have been distributed to several schools and colleges. The Pune Municipal Corporation has also placed orders for several hundred posters which they will be distributing.

These posters are for sale and are available at the Kalpavriksh office.

Put up a poster in your neighbourhood and make an offerring of a cleaner environment to Lord Ganesha!

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