Ganpati

Almost nine years ago Hemlata boarded the local train on her way to a musical evening. As she got off at the station, two street singers were welcoming the travellers with their musical skill. “They were singing so well that I remember standing there and just listening to them for a while,” recalls Hemlata.

The mandal that usually spends over Rs 5 lakh for extravagant festivities like fancy lights, musical fountains, dhol-tasha troupes and music - has reduced it drastically to a mere 20 percent of the original cost.

With the public becoming increasingly conscious about the fragile state of the environment, many are doing their bit to ensure that they only opt for eco-friendly idols and decorations. Taking this thought forward, many mandals have also decided to join the bandwagon and go green.

If you are among those who have waited to purchase an eco-friendly Ganesha idol, your search ends here with this is a list of seven organisations who are making and selling green-Ganeshas.

A resident of Chembur, T V Sudhakar, is giving away 1,000 clay Ganapati idols to Mumbaikars for free this Ganesh Chaturthi!

Abhay Kardeguddi and Nachiket Thakur have come up with do-it-yourself 'Eco Makhars' (decorations) made of recycled paper.