Community drive in Chitranagari promotes clay idols over Plaster of Paris
About 215 people from Rajkot — including children, youth, women and senior citizens — took part in a free workshop on eco-friendly Ganpati idol making organised by Mission Smart City Trust at Chitranagari. The event is part of an ongoing campaign to encourage the use of natural clay and non-toxic materials for Ganeshotsav, organisers said.
The workshop, now in its sixth consecutive year since the initiative began in 2021, aimed to build practical skills and raise awareness about the environmental impact of Plaster of Paris (POP) idols and chemical-based paints. Participants learned to shape idols from natural clay and to decorate them with environmentally safe materials brought from home or provided during the session.
- Attendance: Around 215 participants, spanning ages from about 10–12 years to people in their 70s.
- Idol sizes made: From roughly half a foot to one-and-a-half feet tall.
- Focus: Use of natural clay and eco-friendly decorative materials; discouraging plastic and POP use.
Speaking on the motivation behind the campaign, organiser Maulik Gotecha said the group has been engaged in community art projects in Rajkot for a decade and, since 2021, has emphasised greener alternatives for festival celebrations.
"We've been doing wall painting projects in Rajkot for the past 10 years. But for the last 6 years, we've had this idea that since the Ganesha festival is such a big deal all over India, we thought, instead of using POP, it's much better to use eco-friendly clay," Gotecha said.
Practical training and awareness combined
Organisers reported that the hands-on format allowed participants of all ages to try sculpting and decorating, often using family-supplied items such as small kalashs and natural embellishments. The workshop also included short sessions highlighting environmental concerns tied to POP idols and synthetic paints, and encouraged alternatives like clay, natural dyes and biodegradable decorations.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Number of participants | ~215 |
| Age range | Children (~10–12) to people in their 70s |
| Idol sizes created | ~0.5 ft to 1.5 ft |
| Organising body | Mission Smart City Trust |
The initiative forms part of broader efforts across Gujarat and India to reduce pollution during festival immersions. POP idols and chemical-laden paints can contribute to water contamination and are harder to dissolve, while natural clay releases fewer harmful residues when immersed. By training local residents in clay sculpting and eco-decoration, organisers hope to increase availability of greener idols in neighbourhoods and reduce reliance on non-biodegradable materials.
Mission Smart City Trust has maintained the free workshop model since its inception, according to the organiser, stressing accessibility as a priority so families and community groups can adopt sustainable practices for Ganeshotsav without added cost barriers.
Participants at the Chitranagari session produced a range of small idols suitable for household celebrations and expressed interest in continuing such techniques in their families and local mandals. The organisers also used the opportunity to urge residents to avoid plastic-based ornaments and chemical colours, which they said undermine the ecological benefits of clay idols.
As Ganeshotsav approaches, community-level interventions like this Rajkot workshop may influence local demand for eco-friendly idols and decorative materials, potentially steering small-scale artisans and vendors towards natural products. Organisers indicated the campaign will continue beyond the current workshop season, consistent with the six-year run of the project so far.
