For Ganapati devotees, size does matter
By - Meghdoot Sharon

Neither have the authorities managed to convince people to reduce the height of Ganesha idols, nor have they ensured that the idols are made of clay instead of plaster of Paris. As a result, more than 200 Gahesha idols, more than 12 feet high will be immersed this year in the Kankaria lake, and Sabarmati river.

The Ahmedabad Ganeshotsava Association Trust (AGAT), which has been trying to ensure that people reduce the height of idols;and also install clay idols so that they can dissolve faster when immersed, says that it has failed in both aspects as "this is a matter that involves tradition and the sentiments of people".

According to the AGAT. between 500 and 700 sarvajanik ganesha idols will be installed in various parts of the city on Wednesday. Last year, around 450 idols were installed while 350-odd idols were installed the previous year. Besides these big sarvajanik idols, hundreds of other idols will also be installed in societies and households and will be taken out for immersion in a procession after ten days.

However, the silver lining this year is that AGAT has managed to convince people to immerse a majority of the idols in the Sabarmati river instead of Kankaria lake. AGAT office bearers met collectorate officials and AMC officials and have decided that most idols will be immersed at the base of Swami Vivekananda bridge. Fortunately, the Sabarmati river has adequate water this year. However, a number of idols will still be immersed in the Kankaria lake.

AMC officials told Express Newsline that they have held several meetings with the Ganeshotsay organisers and said that itis encouraging that most idols will be immersed in Sabarmati instead of Kankaria lake as this causes severe silting problems in the lake, be-sides adversely affecting the fishes in the lake.

Hanumant Ingle, president of the Ahmedabad Ganeshotsava Association Trust (AGAT) told Express Newsline on Tuesday that although earnest attempts were made to reduce the size of idols and also ensure that they are made of clay instead of plaster of paris, the move has not been successful.

"This is an issue that involves the religious sentiments of people and also it has been a long tradition. So we really have not been able to do much despite persuading people," Ingle said. The AGAT has held a series of meetings with the city police and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in abid to ensure that the ten-day festival passes off peacefully.

On why the association failed to convince various sarvajanik rnandals to ensure that clay is used instead of plasterofparis, the official said that clay is not available in abundance around Ahmedabad.

"Most ganesha idols that people buy are made at Gulbai Tekra area and those people have been using plaster of Paris for years," he said. Ingle also admitted that there was little success in the attempt to restrict the height of Ganesha idols to around nine or tenfeet. "Yes, it is true that there are some idols that are more than 20 feet in height and these will be installed and immersed," he said.

Republished from The Indian Express