With an eco-Ganesha, Konkan railways look to spread the word

The Konkan Railway, which has been observing Ganpati festival for the last 14 years, moved to eco-friendly idol last year and will be spreading the message for the same this year too.

"The idea was that since everyone was becoming environment-conscious, we should be too," said Vaishali Patange, chief public relations officer of the Konkan railway.

The idol, which takes 10 days to make, was prepared by three engineers from the railways. It is about two-and-a-half feet tall and will be placed at the Konkan Rail Vihar, near Teud railway station. "We will also be spreading the message of the eco-friendly festival," said Dyanneshwar Sawant, technician with the railways who along with two others made the idol.

The makers said that they preferred making one from paper idol over clay because of its light weight and easy making.

"You can make the idol by putting the paper pulp in the mould and once it dries, you can colour it. Our decorations too are eco-friendly," said Sawant. This year an old locomotive has been prepared.

The officials have made a conscious decision to not immerse idol this year in an artificial pond. "Instead we are going where everyone does so that we can create some awareness even while immersions," said Sawant.

Post immersions, the railways look to reach out to over 300 people int he colony so that they can move to eco-friendly Ganesha. "We will be having workshops so that they too can make idol at their home on their own," said Sawant.