THIS DIWALI LETS BURST HUNGER AND NOT CRACKERS - BE A SOCIAL CRACKER !

Dear ALL,

It’s that festive time of the year again – celebrations, lights, sweets, and chocolates. It’s Diwali. Unfortunately, it’s also time for the usual noise and air pollution. But you can make a difference – by opting to celebrate the festival somewhat differently this year. Wondering how? We’ve got you covered! Here are ways in which you can celebrate an eco-friendly and guilt-free Diwali.

I was surfing the net and came across this unique Campaign which touched me immensely and I think its my social responsibility to help and spread the word of 24-year-old Saajan Abrol, a Gurgaon resident for a noteworthy cause.

Participate in this Unique Social Media Campaign – Burst Hunger Challenge

24-year-old Saajan Abrol, a Gurgaon resident, has started a social media campaign called #BurstHungerChallenge. It’s a campaign with a twist – burst hunger, not crackers this Diwali. It works quite simply, really. Give something to a person in need – food, clothes, blankets, shoes, etc. Preferably something new, not leftovers or something you’re discarding. Take a picture or make a short video of this act of giving (yourself with the person who is receiving, or the receiver’s reaction to your gift, etc.)  and share it on social media with the message “Instead of bursting crackers, I pledge to burst hunger this Diwali – I accept the #BurstHungerChallenge.” Challenge five of your friends to do the same by tagging them in the post. Participate here : https://www.facebook.com/bursthunger/

PLEASE ! PLEASE! LIGHTEN THEIR HOMES BY NOT BARGAINING.

Engage Children in Activities Much More Interesting than Bursting Crackers

It’s Diwali. And it should be celebrated. But is bursting crackers the only way to do so? Both children and adults can be engaged in many different activities and spend the day in a more fruitful manner. For example, gather all the children in your building/society and take them for a nature walk the day before Diwali. Ask them to bring along their cameras, musical instruments, and even drawing books if they want. Spend some time observing the biodiversity in the nearest garden, park or field. And then get down to collecting dry leaves, grass, twigs, and more. On Diwali day, get these things together and organize a community bonfire in a common area. A self-made bonfire that also helps kids learn something about nature – now that’s truly eco-friendly!

Go Green When Planning Your Rangoli

If you plan to make rangoli on Diwali, make sure you use organic and eco-friendly colours. Instead of using dyes and colours available in the market, just use what you have at home – turmeric for yellow and vermillion for red. You can also use flower petals, dried leaves, ground beetroot for a maroon mix, dried orange peels, etc. Look around and let your imagination loose.

How about making Diwali a day of other people’s happiness?

Dress up. Pack a lot of sweets. And go out. Change Diwali into the day when you make other people happy. Go to your nearest old age home or an orphanage. Visit the people there, spend some time with them. Light diyas, distribute sweets and make it a happy day for them. Or maybe pack some food and distribute it among those who are spending Diwali homeless on the streets. It’s the festival of lights after all. How about spreading some joy?

LIGHT UP SMILES ALONG WITH DIYAS 

Festival season at Kumbharwada, Dharavi

With Diwali around the corner, the kilns at Kumbharwada are going non-stop. If you go now, you will see women and men working round the clock, selling the diyas and decorative pots that have been made specially for the festive season. 

There is something special about going to the source of a product and buying it directly from the community. To be able to do that in an urban environment like Mumbai is something even more special. Go visit Kumbharwada, buy some stuff!

Kumbharwada is really easy to get to. With Sion railway station on your right, walk towards Bandra. The first big left you see is called 90-Feet Road. About 500 meters down this road is Kumbharwada (on your left). http://goo.gl/maps/rvQDm

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL...HAVE A SAFE AND GREEN DIWALI

"NATURALIS"

RAJVANSH RUNGTA

THANK YOU : I feel more confident than ever that the power to save the planet rests with the individual consumer. - Denis Hayes

"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man 

Stewart Udall

Dear Members,

I'am very grateful to all members who have helped by spreading my word and by acquiring the products to fulfill my cause. Your gesture will now allow me to adopt a rare specie at BNHS very soon that in turn will benefit our nature and encourage me to work harder. I’d like you to know that your thoughtfulness is truly making a difference to mother nature and  in the lives of so many under privileged groups and physically challenged adults.

SPECIAL MENTION "THANK YOU" 

MR. & MRS. ANAND SINGHANIA & TANYA SINGHANIA

MR.&MRS. VINAY AGARWAL,DIVYAM & HARSHITA

MR & MRS RAKESH DAMANI

MR.RAJU HARLALKA

MRS.SHRUTI BHUWANIA

MRS.NANDINI

MRS.SUNITA CHOKSI

MRS.PINKY GUPTA

MRS.KRINA ASHAR

MRS.KOMAL SHAH

MRS.SHILPA

MRS.BOBBY

MRS.NEETA NAIK

Thank you all for supporting and encouraging me in my endeavour.

Respectfully,

RAJVANSH RUNGTA.

An Honest Confession ...Why Green Bappa ? Be a Campaigner

 LIFE CHANGING INCIDENT.....

In the year 2010, I had got a Ganpati Made Of POP and celebrated the festival with great joy and big enthusiasm.He is the God of wisdom and prosperity so people in Hindu religion worship him to get the same.  When the time of immersion was nearing I was saddened to let him go and with full pomp n show we left home for visarjan.After reaching there the excitement and the energy defies how crowded the beach actually is. It feels as though the Ganesh idols, resplendent with their charming demeanour, are showering a bountiful of blessings on the devotees. 

All my excitement turned into dissapointment and  guilt when I saw the beach flooded with pieces of Ganesha's body parts,coconuts,flowers,thermocol,plastic bags everywhere.I was flabbergasted and dumb struk. .A huge amount of Coconut Trees are chopped off and the palm leaves are used to decorate trucks used to carry the Idol during immersion.Banana Leaves are also used to decorate the trucks. Apart from the roads that are filled with trash the next day, beaches, rivers and lakes are most affected. After seeing the terrible scenes while immersions at Chowpatty Beach, I pledged not to get an idol made of POP again and do immersion.I felt if he is the God of wisdom how come people are not getting wiser by seeing and understanding that repeatedly year by year we are polluting the water bodies.

 I"AM MORE SHOCKED AT THE FACT THAT ALL POLITICAL LEADERS,EMMINENT PERSONALITIES AND MANY OTHERS IN POSITION WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE SILENT. 

The Mumbai police has banned the publication of damaged idols, these pictures have been taken from Juhu Beach the Day after Ganesh Chaturthi. I guess the police does not want people to be made aware and woken up to the harsh realities of the destruction of mother nature in the name of God. 

Why Green Bappa?

We all love our favorite elephant God- Ganesha, fondly referred to as ½Ganapati Bappaï ½ in Maharashtra. We bring him in our houses with lot of fanfare, beautifully decorate his throne, keep him well fed with ladoos and modaks, entertain him with bhajans and artis, but when the time comes for him to depart we are careless and unimaginative.

How?

1. Plaster of Paris or PoP idols which are commonly used, contain chemicals like gympsum, sulphur, magnesium, phosphorous. These when immersed in water, take a long time to dissolve in the water, release chemicals and harm the eco system in water.
2. The chemicals used in the paints to color the idols contain trace elements like arsenic, mercury, silicon, lead, magnesium which are poisonous and not only kill aquatic life but also may enter our food cycle leading to long term health consequences.
3. Idols that are improperly immersed restrict the flow of water and cause water stagnation increasing chance of mosquito infestation and diseases.
4. The thermocol makhars or decorations used during the festival are dumped along the garbage, increasing landfill and which takes thousands of years to disintegrate.
5. The garlands and other flower waste thrown in plastic bags into lakes, rivers and the seas, lead to water pollution.

There is no denying the faith and the love we all feel about Ganesha but we must equally be concerned about the impact of our actions on the environment. We feel strongly feel about the unnecessary harm done to our environment while celebrating this joyful festival. So have creating a platform to spread awareness about the issue and providing solutions for celebrating Ganesh utsav in an eco friendly manner.

 Ganesh Chaturthiï Eco friendly Origins

Unlike the kind of celebrations we today associate with Ganesh Chaturthi- loud, ostentatious, environmentally degrading; the original Ganesh Chaturthi was quite opposite. According to some, it was the ancient agricultural communities in India that began this custom. In order to offer their thanks to earth since they depended on it, they collected some soil from the bank from the river and took it home to worship. After the ritual was over, they would take back the soil and immerse it in the river.

Over a period, the custom evolved and the mound of soil became Ganesha. They first started making Ganesh idols from the soil they brought home then the local craftsmen made them. Slowly it was clay and then Plaster of Paris that was now used to make the idols. Then came artificial colours and then elaborate decorations. Today, more grand the decoration, bigger the idol, more expensive the budget- the better.. Thus from a small, simple, symbolic gesture of gratitude, Ganesh chaturthi became a festival of grandiose, losing some of its soul in the process.

9 Tips to make your Ganesha Green

Want to celebrate Ganeshotsav but don't want to harm the environment? Here are tips for you!

1. Green Idol: Do not buy Ganesh idols made from PoP (Plaster of Paris) instead look for idols made from paper Mache, clay or install a metal idol.
2. Green paint: While choosing a clay model, make sure that the colors used on it are eco friendly and do not contain metallic compounds which can be poisonous for the aquatic life.
3. Smaller Size: Reduce the size of the ganesh idol you bring home, this will reduce the harm caused by its immersion.
4. Green Decorations: Instead of going for decoration made from thermocol, use innovative ideas for decorations like colorful flowers, lights, cloth drapes.
5. Simple Celebrations: Go for a simple celebration which keeps the essence of the festival alive along with the traditional and religious aspects of it.
6. Green Immersions: On the day of immersion, immerse your idols at artificial ponds in your area do not immerse them in rivers, lakes or sea.
7. Disposing Waste: Do not throw the flowers, garlands in the water while immersion, dispose them in a paper bag in the nirmalya or waste bins installed by the municipality.
8. No nuisance, please: Also while you take your idol for immersion, avoid using bands or huge speakers which causes nuisance to young and old alike.
9. Common Celebration: Talk to your family and friends and help reduce the number of idols immersed by having a common Ganesh idol. This will not only reduce the strain on environment but also increase the joy of the festival.

GREEN IMMERSION 

Artificial Immersion

The cacophony of the chants, bhajans, lezim and the rising fervor during Ganesh Visarjan gives an electrifying atmosphere. But what many people forget it that along with our immersion of dear Bappa, we also leave many harmful chemical paints, and Plaster of Paris which is insoluble in water, into the creeks, sea and lakes.

We don�t realize that our actions disturb marine ecology and many organisms simply die after the festival. In the face of unrestrained immersion of idols, a number of lakes like the 35 lakes in Thane are in the danger of being extinct. In a 2009 year, 1.91 lakh of idols were immersed (according to envis). Tons and tons of POP are left into the water bodies, where fishes and other aquatic organisms thrive putting their lives in danger.

There is one solution to burgeoning problem: Artificial Immersions.

What is Artificial immersion?

Artificial immersion is immersion of Ganesh idols within our homes or in an artificial pond constructed by the local municipal corporation. A pit is dug out, large enough to contain a large number of idols of that area. It is then covered with Tarpaulin sheets so to as ensure that no water or idols seeps into the ground. Then the pond is filled by water, embankments are made and the pond is ready.

This way the harmful chemicals used in making the idols do not reach natural water bodies. After Ganpati immersions are over, the pit is again filled with soil after the idols are removed.

What happens to the idols later?

The idols then accumulate at the base of the artificial pond. The POP disintegrates and settles down. It is all taken out and can be recycled into a host of articles like POP bricks, containers etc. Through this activity, natural water bodies are not only protected from these materials, but something useful is also made. Some citizens groups like Pestom Sagar Citizens Association, Chembur, engage in this kind of activity.

Symbolic Immersion

The origins of Ganesh Chaturthi started with the agrarian community bringing home a mould of soil from the river bank, worshipping it and then immersing it back to the river after the ritual. This ritual was to pay respect to earth and also to signify the cycle of creation and dissolution, acknowledging the fact that all things come from nature and go seamlessly back to it.

However as years passed, the mould of soil became the idol of Ganesha; the ritual remained but the message behind it was lost.

Instead of looking at immersion from a ritualistic point of view, we need to understand the thought behind it. Today knowing the harmful chemicals in the idols as well as colors, we need to make practical adjustments in the immersion practices.

We must opt for symbolic immersion,

1. Instead of the actual Ganesh idol we could immerse a betel nut and pack away the idol for use the next year.
2. Another way of immersion could be sprinkling a few drops of water on the idol and then wiping it off and keeping the idol for another year�s use.
3. In case of metal idols we can immerse the idol in a tub or a bucket at home.

This way we do not lose touch with our culture and tradition but also preserve the environment.

Green Team

1. RecycleKaro
   
2. TWIGG

Evergreen Recyclekaro (INDIA) Pvt Ltd.

1. Recyclekaro, is a social enterprise which works on recycling and works majorly for recycling of paper, Nirmalya and e-waste. Recyclekaro has outlets in Airoli, Mulund and have outlets in other cities in India. To know more, visit the site www.recyclekaro.com
   In 2011, TWIGG decided to reach a wider base of people by spreading awareness about celebrating eco- friendly Ganesh chaturthi through a website. They have tried to compile information about different kinds of idols available, their advantages, eco friendly decoration, how to make them and the best ways of immersion. We hope those you who go through the website will find all they wanted to know about eco friendly celebration of Ganesh utsav.
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TWIGG

1. Green Bappa is an initiative undertaken by two groups- TWIGG and Recyclekaro
   TWIGG is a voluntary group of five college friends from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai, to spread awareness about ecological issues and foster community involvement to conserve environment through various activities.
   The members include Ruta Satam, Chaitra Yadavar, Ashwini Bhawar, Snehal Kulkarni, Snehal Malwad and Swagata Yadavar. They have previously organized ‘Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav’ in August 2009 consisting of three days of activities and events like competitions for school children, rallies and exhibitions in Airoli and Vashi.
   
   In 2010, built a campaign around the same lines titled ‘Ganesha says Go Green’ in collaboration with Recyclekaro.They conducted awareness drives, exhibitions, workshops in Mulund, Vashi and Airoli.  

The Final Solution

Here is what we found out after our research on the environmental impact of celebrating Ganesh chaturthi or Ganesh utsav

1. Ganesha idols made from PoP or Plaster of Paris contain gypsum which add to the toxicity of water and harm marine life
2. Ganesh idols are generally painted by colours that contain trace metals like mercury and cadmium which can be fatal for humans and other life forms once it enters food cycle
3. Large size of Ganesh idols contain large amounts of PoP, large amount of paint, need more time to dissolve thus causing more harm to the environment
4. Ganesh idols made from shaadu clay or clay from the river bed dissolved easily in water however it was still not a part of the ecosystem and deposits in the bed
5. Ganesh idols made from paper mache also dissolved easily and are broken down by micro organisms in the water however they can create anerobic environment depleting oxygen levels in the water killing fish
6. Eco friendly colours sold by paint companies and home-made colours like sendur, gulal, kum kum, turmeric, geru are much gentler on the environment but can still harm the marine life since they are also foreign to the eco system and their presence in large quantities

So what could be the solution to the problem?

The only way we can reduce the impact of this festival is through community efforts. One of the reasons why Ganesh utsav started in the first place was to foster a feeling of community and unity among people and we again need to come together to reduce the damage we are doing on the environment.

Ways of minimizing the impact on environment-

Reducing the number of Ganesha idols. This can be done by having a few idols for a buildings, complexes and societies. Many families can come together and decide to celebrate the festival together, reducing the impact and increasing the joy of the festival.

Decreasing the size of Ganesh idols. Tougher regulations and more awareness are needed so that bigger idols are not immersed in the rivers and seas. These idols take more time to disintegrate and cause more damage to marine life.

Using eco friendly idols, paints and decorations. After reducing the number and size of the idols we need to look at the most eco friendly idol, paint and decorations and use it. Through innovation and originality we can surely celebrate ganesh utsav in the same lively manner but without harming our planet.

I URGE ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

Be a Campaigner

Our bappa needs you to protect environment and turn this festival, into a green one. Do your bit and help the cause.

Here is how you can become a Green Bappa Campaigner-

1. Have a Green Celebration: Bring a Green Idol home, celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in an eco friendly manner and immerse the idol in a green way.
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   Green Idol
   Green Decoration
   Green Immersion
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4. Talk to others: Spread the message one person at a time. When someone asks about the idol, tell them why you chose to celebrate ganesh utsav in a green way and how they can do it too.
5. Spread the message: Use your circle of influence your friends, family, colleagues and tell them about the cause. Use social networking sites, blogs, mails to spread awareness.
6. Start a campaign in your area: Print posters, have an exhibition about harms of Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols, thermocol decorations and benefits of eco friendly idols and decorations.Thank you and feeling hopefulthat this year my friends,family and known ones will be a part of 'Naturalis" to spread the word around and save our environment.
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8. Regards,
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10. RAJVANSH RUNGTA.

tha

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