Visarjan of Lord Ganesha & Lakshmi on Diwali eve - a circular approach

All Hindus purchase new idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on the eve of Diwali festival. As per their belief, the devotees offer new idols to the deities on Diwali day and make prayers before them to accept idols and live in the house of devotees to bring prosperity and happiness to their families.

Over the time, artists have evolved creative methods to make attractive idols and devotees use them as symbolic of their honor to the deities. However, under such compulsions, the devotees are failing in their duties to undertake visarjan (immersion in water) of the old idols properly. No more, it is allowed to do visarjan in the rivers as the chemicals used in these idols causes water pollution. The devotees attempted to dump the idols in the land but it is no more feasible as open land in urban cities is not available. Further, the idols don't get merge with the soil for the same reason i.e. use of chemicals. Hence, in the absence of alternative approaches, the confused devotees started dropping idols in temple for priests to decide or leaving below the Pipal trees for the God to take care by itself. This is a wrong practice as most of the old idols get disrespected in open and it is against the mythological belief of all Hindus.

May I request my Hindu brothers to use soft clay muds to make pindis of Lord Ganesha and Lakshmi like that of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra, Jammu. The size of pindis may vary as per the space available in your temples. This will enable you to practice your existing Hindu belief and you will be able to do visarjan in any water bodies without polluting them.

My enterprising fellows can buy this idea to make a commercial attempt and undertake traditional approach to develop environment friendly Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi who will fulfill the dreams of every house this diwali as well as help my Hindu brothers to practice their staunch belief of visarjan with purity and dedication.

Author: Dr Nitin Aggrawal