Mumbai: The artisans of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols are up in arms against the Bombay High Court order banning the manufacturing, use and immersion of PoP idols in natural spots (lakes, creeks and seashores).
The protest intensified after the Ganesh Idols of Kandivali Shree and Charkopcha Raja returned to the mandaps as the BMC stopped the mandals from immersing the PoP-made idols in Marve Beach, complying with the HC directions.
Devotees celebrated the 10-day Maghi Ganpati festival, which ended on February 11. The BMC overnight on Monday installed Artificial ponds with extra depth and width to facilitate visarjan of Ganpati idols up to 15 feet and one pond with a height of 19 feet.
However, the two mandals said the artificial ponds were not big enough for the idols and stressed immersion at Marve Beach. However, the BMC did not allow the immersion and both the idols were taken back to the mandals after grand visarjan procession.
Shree Ganesh Moortikar Sanghatna, the union of the artisans is objecting to the HC directions and is likely to file a petition in the Supreme Court urging to allow the manufacturing, use and immersion of PoP idols.
Secretary of the Sanghatna Suresh Sharma said, “Although we do not intend to disobey the high court, but we are not convinced with directions as it has not provided us with an alternative. The clay idols are not strong enough for the 10-day-long festival and are also very heavy and expensive for devotees.”
Speaking on the Kandivali Shree and Charkopcha Raja Ganesh idols, Sharma said, “The Ganesh idols are tall and could not be immersed in artificial ponds installed by BMC. They had to return to the mandaps, which has hurt the sentiments of the devotees. The idols will be now immersed after the Supreme Court’s order. All Ganpati mandals in Mumbai and Maharashtra will not enter the fray and fight collectively,” Sharma said speaking with the FPJ.
Environmentalist Rohit Joshi who had filed the PIL in HC urging to follow the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) rules and ban the PoP idols said, “The HC directions of January 30 ahead of Maghi Ganesh festival are given for the first time. While the BMC had also issued a notice in January to sarvajanik mandals to install idol clay idols. The mandals do not take the court and administrative instructions seriously. They are welcome to approach the SC, however, the CPCB guidelines cannot be denied to safeguard the environment.”
Santosh Kambli, artisan of Lalbaugcha Raja said, “We will not shorten the height of the idols which has been ongoing for 132 years. It holds cultural importance and is an international attraction. Also, clay idols cannot be built more than 5 feet. We will fight against the directives to ban PoP idols.”
10 days Maghi Ganpati festival
Total visarjans in Mumbai – Over 4000 (including household Ganpati and savajanik. PoP and clay made both)
Visarjan on Feb 10 -20
Visarjan on Feb 11 – 53
On the last day of visarjan, BMC denied permission to immerse PoP idols in natural water spots (seashores and lakes) following Bombay HC orders
Two sarvajanik Ganpati- Kandivali Shree and Charkopcha Raja returned to mandaps as BMC’s artificial ponds were not big enough, mandals say
Artisans in Mumbai ready to fight legal battle to allow PoP idols
Petitioner says PoP idols are banned as per HC order following CPCB guidelines
