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More than a million big, medium and small idols of Lord Ganesha shall adorn millions of homes in India for 10 long days.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893 started Ganesh Chaturthi to bring people together and fight against Britishers who were ruling India from over 200 years.
Millions of people in Mumbai and across India will mark the beginning of Ganesh Chaturthi — a 10 day festival where people bring home of Ganesha in hope that He can bring in prosperity. After nine days of celebrations, the idols are immersed in a water body.
A few Indians are keeping up with this tradition while trying to save the fragile ecosystem of the country. Many prefer to use eco-friendly Ganesh idols instead of the popular and cheaper varieties that use plaster of paris.
This year, people are using idols made of clay and those installed in a plant pot, to make it environment-friendly.
In Gujarat, a 26-year-old social entrepreneur turned jewellery waste into Ganesh idols. The prices of the idols will range between ₹1800 and ₹12,000 a piece.
Two thousand students also prayed for the raging fires in the Amazon forest by forming a Ganesh idol with lamps.
The community worship dates back to freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak who kickstarted the festival in 1893. He intended to unite against the Britishers who were then ruling over India..
Several associations in Maharashtra have a budget of upto ₹5 million to celebrate the festival.
Mumbai alone will has 450 gigantic idols in public areas with a prescribed height limit of 18-feet. However, many pandals as the prayer areas are called, generally ignore the limits. The city also has 20,000 medium-sized idols.