New Delhi: With less than a week left, preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi are in full swing as the country gears up to celebrate one of its biggest festivals. Ganeshotsav, which lasts for 10-11 days, begins with bringing Lord Ganesha home, decorating homes and idols, enjoying delectable delicacies with family, and concludes with the immersion of the Ganesha idols on the final day. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 6th September 2024.
As the festival approaches, it’s essential to be eco-conscious and take steps to protect our environment from harmful pollutants. With the festivities just around the corner, here’s a simple, quick, time-saving, and eco-friendly method to make your own Ganapati idol at home.
How to make eco-friendly Ganesh idol at home
Eco-friendly, lightweight, strong, and easy to handle, paper mâché idols not only add an innovative festive look to your home but also help safeguard the environment.
Materials Required for Decoration
Old newspapers or magazines – As per requirement
Ornamental stones
Plain flour – 1 cup
Water – 1 cup
Method for Making Eco-Friendly Ganesha
To create paper mâché, begin by tearing newspapers or magazines into small pieces. Place the torn paper in a deep-bottomed pan and boil it for 10-15 minutes or until it becomes tender. Allow it to cool for a while.
Once cooled, thoroughly squeeze out the water from the paper pieces and set them aside.
In a separate bowl, mix one part flour with one part water (e.g., 1 cup flour and 1 cup water) until you achieve a thick, glue-like consistency. If the mixture is too thick, gradually add more water until you reach the desired consistency. Stir well to remove any lumps.
Add the paper pulp to the flour mixture and knead it until you have a soft, malleable dough.
Using the paper mâché dough, create one large ball for the belly portion of the idol, two thick long coils for the back and legs, one small coil for the crown, two petal shapes for the ears, two hands, a cylindrical shape for the trunk, a small Modak, and two small tusks.
To assemble the idol, first attach the two thick coils to the large belly ball.
Gradually assemble the remaining body parts to form the idol. Use a spatula to shape and smooth the edges of the idol.
Dip your fingers in water and gently rub them over the idol to remove any cracks from the paper mâché.
Pierce holes for the eyes, and create depressions on the navel and forehead for the tika/tilak.
Allow the idol to dry for 1-2 days. With the rainy season, you might not have the sun’s assistance for drying. To expedite drying, consider using a fan or an air cooler.
Finally, decorate your Ganapati Bappa with ornamental stones.
Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 sustainably with this simple and time-saving method.
Learn how to make an eco-friendly Ganapati idol. Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 sustainably with this simple and time-saving method. Events Lifestyle News -Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Celebrity Party News, Relationship advice, Travel and Food Tips
