A 72-foot eco-friendly Ganesh idol at Nagole in Hyderabad has become a major attraction during the city’s Ganesh festivities, with organisers promoting natural materials and planning to dissolve the clay idol at the pandal instead of taking it to an external immersion site.
The Sri Ashta Siddhi Maha Ganapati idol is described by its organisers as the tallest idol of the season. They said the installation was designed to promote environmental conservation. The idol has been drawing devotees, who are also attending a Ganga aarti held every evening at the pandal.
Sai Mudiraj, one of the organisers, said five priests from Varanasi had been invited to conduct the 25-minute aarti. Water brought from the Ganga is being used for the ritual, according to the organisers.
The idol’s frame was made using bamboo and straw, while the main figure was created from clay. Local artisan Kothakonda Nagesh said 25 artists from West Bengal worked day and night on the idol. Nagesh claimed it was probably the tallest seated eco-friendly Ganesh idol in India.
The organisers said the immersion would take place at the pandal itself. Panchamrutam will first be sprinkled on the idol, after which water from fire tenders will be used to dissolve the clay. The remaining clay will then be distributed among devotees for use in flower pots and gardens.
The planned process reflects a growing use of clay and other natural materials for festival idols, while keeping the immersion activity at the installation site. The source report does not provide details about the quantity of water required, the arrangements for collecting the dissolved material, or any municipal permissions connected with the process.
The pandal will also host two laddu offerings this year. An 11-kg laddu will be awarded through a lucky draw linked to raffle-ticket sales, while a 72-kg laddu will be auctioned. The organisers said last year’s laddu fetched Rs 4.5 lakh.
The evening aarti, the idol’s scale and the planned on-site dissolution are expected to remain the main features of the Nagole installation during the festivities. Organisers have said the clay recovered after the process will be handed to devotees for use in gardens and flower pots.
