Vasai | September 8, 2026 — Manufacturers and sellers of plaster of Paris (POP) Ganpati idols in Vasai-Virar must now paint a clearly visible red circle on the back of every idol, following directions issued by the Maharashtra government and communicated by the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation ahead of the festival season.
The marking is intended to make it easier to distinguish POP idols from idols made of Shadu clay, the Loksatta report said. The measure has been introduced in the context of environmental concerns linked to idol immersion and the increasing number of private and public Ganpati idols used in Vasai-Virar each year.
According to the report, the Maharashtra government’s Environment and Climate Change Department issued directions dated August 1, 2025, and September 1, 2026. Under the instructions, all commercial manufacturers and sellers of POP idols must create a red circle using oil paint on the rear side of each idol, ensuring that the mark is clearly visible.
The directions also require manufacturers and sellers to maintain a special register recording idol transactions. The register is intended to document the purchase and sale of idols and support the implementation of the marking requirement.
The Vasai-Virar civic administration held a meeting at the municipal headquarters with local idol manufacturers and sellers to explain the government’s guidelines. During the meeting, officials instructed participants to comply with the directions, according to the report.
The municipal corporation has asked idol makers and vendors to place the red mark on the back of every POP idol and record each transaction in the prescribed register. The requirement applies as the city prepares for a Ganpati festival that has seen a growing number of idols in recent years, with POP idols accounting for a substantial share, the report said.
The latest directions place responsibility on manufacturers and sellers to identify POP idols before they enter the market. The municipal administration’s meeting was presented as an implementation step for the state government’s instructions in Vasai-Virar.
