Ganesh Chaturthi: From clay to chocolate, eco-friendly Ganesha idols find a home

Ganesh Chaturthi entered its fifth day on Wednesday, and five more days remain until the grand celebrations end on 16 September. While major pandals in big cities celebrate with huge idols, for many, Ganpati celebrations remain an intimate and personal affair. This is why people choose eco-friendly ways to welcome the elephant god.
This form of Lord Ganesha is the most popular eco-friendly Ganesh idol among people. The basic ingredient used for making this idol is clay. People prefer clay Ganesha as it is also available easily in the market and can be immersed at the end of the festival.
This is one of the most trendy homemade Ganesh idol varieties made by people. The Ganesh idols are either made from chocolate ganache or chocolate dough. They are sweet, just like Lord Ganesh loves sweet. To make it more worthy, people also include dry fruits and nuts. They not only add colours, but also five more structural stability.
Another popular form of Lord Ganesha is loved by people for their home. The Ganesh idols are made with fresh fruits and vegetables. They promote environmental consciousness and are eco-friendly in nature.
These are the Ganesh idols made with milk solids or khoya (mawa). They offer a rich and traditional offering. For these eco-friendly Ganesh idols, the mava is moulded into the shape of Ganpati Bappa. These can be immersed at the end of the festival.
Simple yet trendy, the Ganesh idol is made with atta or wheat flour. These are becoming very popular in recent past. People also use turmeric to add some colour to their mini Ganesha and these can be immersed at the end of the festival too.