A mound of clay along with a little bit of creative mind is what one needs to design an eco-friendly Ganesh idol. This year, to promote toxic-free celebrations, Paryavarana Margadarsi Vaisakhi in association with Andhra Pradesh Pollution Board has begun a green campaign a month ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.
AS a part of this an awareness programme was organised where 5,000 elephant-headed idols made of clay were distributed near Gandhi statue opposite GVMC here on Sunday.
Members of the NGO said about 38,000 medicinal plant seeds-embedded idols were distributed to students, visiting schools and colleges till now. This apart, they gave away a list of 21 patris (leaves of medicinal plants) used for the festival, highlighting its therapeutic values, to students who took part in the clay-moulding workshops.
Professor of the Department of Zoology, Andhra University Ch. Manjulatha highlighted the perils involved in celebrating the festival by bringing home idols made of plaster of Paris.
She suggested that steps should be taken to control the noise pollution at the Ganesh pandals.