These families do bucket immersion of idol

Girgaum's Sejal Kshirsagar and her family completed the eco-cycle of their Ganpati festivities by bucket immersion of the idol. "We get Ganpati for five days. On the last day, instead of going to a natural water body or an artificial pond, we immerse our idol in a bucket and use the same clay next year," said Sejal Kshirsagar.

The family has been celebrating the festival for the past six years. It all started when their daughter demanded a have an idol and painted one on a piece of clay. "We got red clay first and thereafter she wanted to make a bigger Ganpati. So, we got shadu mati (river clay - traditional ingredient for making Ganesha idols) for her," said Kshirsagar.

The Kshirsagar family also ensured that no decorations were used in the making of the eco-friendly Ganpati. "At the most, a few flowers were used and a rangoli of rice and was made," Kshirsagar added.

Even after the immersion of the idol, the family doesn't throw the water away. They let it evaporate, so that the clay left behind can be used again.

Another family from Powai, the Gadiyar family, also uses the same eco-friendly method of immersion. However, instead of letting the water evaporate, they use it in their garden. "We did not have any backdrop. In fact, the idol was made of clay and at the most there would be a garland. We restricted the use of flowers too this time so that the decoration is minimal," said Malavika Gadiyar.

"Once the festival is over, post immersion in the bucket, the water was used in our garden. The wheat and rice that is used for a rangoli is used for cooking later," she added.

With a motive to keep the environment clean and also to spread awareness for the same, many families not only in Mumbai but in other cities across the country are embracing for eco-friendly methods to celebrate Ganpati.