Environmental Concern during Festive season

Yes, it is the beginning of the festive season and a cause for Environmental Concern. The Lord Ganesha will come on the third and with it will bring a host of concerns.
Restrictions imposed in Belgaum in connection with Ganesh Chaturthi.
“Ganesh mandals” have been asked to obtain permission from the nearest police station to set up “pandals,” and avoid collecting entry fee or run lotteries. Sound systems should not be used between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The district administration is concerned over maintenance of law and order and communal harmony even as devotees are gearing up for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations from September 3 to 14. The environmental hazards posed by the festivities are an added worry.
The use of plaster of Paris for making Ganesh idols and use of varnish and chemical paints containing mercury and cadmium are a cause for concern. Only a few traditional sculptors use earthen material for making the idols.
The uses of materials like clay symbolize the natural cycle of creation and dissolution. So why damage nature. Creating awareness on the issue much before the sculpting of idols begins is very necessary.
Due to inflation prices of these idols have, sky rocketed by 15 to 20% from last year. The artists making these idols say they don’t make much profit out of this and slowly the new generation is not very interested in coming in this field, although they help in the family business. The use of plaster of paris, thermocol mantaps and then the Nirmalya created after the puja needs to be properly dealt with. We as responsible citizens should do our bit by going in for clay idols and Paper decoration material rather than plastic. The issue of nirmalya (flowers etc used while Puja) has a religious belief behind it, even then we should not dispose it in rivers as it will cause pollution.
Ganpati Bappa Morya !See original story on The Hindu