A SHAMEFUL MATTER

I still remember walking around in my hometown of Kolhapur at Rankala Lake and its vicinity as a kid. My home is just couple of minutes away from the lake. I used to look around and find so many birds flocking over the water in the morning sun. I used to try counting the fish who were visible under shallow waters. It was a pleasant sight. I lived so close to nature and I was proud and happy at the same time.

I took a similar stroll at the lake when I visited India in October 2014. I thought I would refresh my childhood memories. But the lake had different plans for me. It brought a sense of unrest in my mind. I thought to myself, what are we doing to our surroundings? Where are those innumerable Herons I used to see fishing along the lakeside? Where are all those fish I counted? You must be wondering what did I see which made me think in such a direction?  Well this is what I saw:

There were all these Ganesh Idols scattered all around the place. It was a devastated site. These were apparently from the “Ganesh Visarjan” of countless different “Tarun” and “Mitra” mandals that Kolhapur city has (Most of them are bloody useless because they consists of youngsters who are least interested in any kind of social improvement or upbringing. They just get together in the evening, chit-chat and utter bad/abusive words in public and then go home). Because of the chemicals and colors involved in manufacturing of these idols, the water was over polluted. Fish were dead and there was only one Heron I saw who was sitting on a tree branch because probably he had nothing to eat in this corrupt water. There were two aspects that I was concerned about after looking at all of this. First was our religion and second was nature.

Let’s turn tables towards religion first. Lord Ganesh is supposed to be one of the most worshipped gods in Hinduism. He is called as “Vighnaharta” (Destroyer of Obstructions). Is this how we want to see our god? With broken hands and feet and half submerged in shitty water? There were countless flies and insects hovering around these idols. Where are we heading with all this? All these so called “Mandals” in Kolhapur collect money from people and celebrate “Ganesh Utsav”. And what is the outcome? THIS? I don’t know. This should be stopped. If I was on committee of a “Tarun Mandal” in Kolhapur, I would rather collect money from people on “Ganesh Utsav” and feed the needy and poor. Make donations to old age homes and schools for mentally challenged kids. And for the sake of traditions, buy a small eco-friendly Ganesh idol for my “Mandal”.  Atleast god will have a smile on his face when he’ll look at all of this from above. These days there is competition amongst mandals for having the tallest Ganesh idol is town. Why do we need this? An authority should step up immediately and have restrictions on the size of these idols. Why do we have to care how big the idol is? Aren’t our feelings for god and his festival more important? Does praying to bigger and taller idols intensifies the prayer? I just don’t know where we are heading with all this. If we don’t take an action now, it’s a shame on us if we call ourselves Hindus.

                                                    

Nature has its own sufferings too in all of this. Look what we have done to a beautiful place in the city. I remember we called “Rankala Lake” as “Rankala Chaupati” at one time (“Chaupati” means Beach). Since the city lacked a beach, we considered the lake as our beach. People came here to stroll in the evening time with their families. It was like a picnic spot. And we have spoiled everything. For us and our future generations. It’s a shame. That’s all I can say. I feel sad I wouldn’t be able to take my child on a morning walk and show him or her where I had the best time of my childhood. After looking at this, I’ve pledged to myself that if I will ever return to India and celebrate Ganesh Utsav back home, I’ll buy an idol which is made out of nature friendly material. Probably something that will dissolve in water after the “visarjan” and will not harm natural resources of any kind. I am pretty sure there are idols which are made out of eco-friendly material. I searched online and I’ve already found a few websites (e.g. http://www.ecoganesha.org/). And I request all of you to do the same.

I will be checking if there are some concerned authorities in the city of Kolhapur to whom I can forward this message. Hopefully some action will be taken. I know most of the times all these “Tarun and Mitra Mandals” have politicians affiliated to them. All they care about is votes and that’s why they keep these traditions running. No one takes actions. Why? Because people enjoy Ganesh Festival and anyone who takes action against all of this would be in trouble when it comes to vote banks! We need to wake up people! Wake up big time! Charity starts at home. One step at a time! We need to urge all idol manufacturers to use eco-friendly material. I don’t know how many would agree and listen but we need to try and keep trying. Well I can keep writing on and on but I’d cut short and hope we all learn something from this. GANPATI BAPPA MORYA! 

Finally a big thank you to my cousin Malhar Thorat for having his Digital SLR handy. It wouldn't have been possible to get these pictures without him.