Belagavi: Nanawadi Ganeshotsav Mandal, which has been promoting eco-friendly celebrations for the past 14 years, has created another innovative Ganesh idol this year using shadu clay, straw and grass.The 8-foot idol, sculpted by Belagavi-based artist Maruti Kumbar, has been decorated with 18,102 arecanuts of varying shapes. Mandal members spent nearly 20 days painstakingly affixing the arecanuts to make the idol.Aarti Patil, Manesh Patil, Sachin Nandeshwar, Sunil Patil and Mahendra Nandeshwar were among those involved in the project.In previous years, the mandal had created Ganesh idols using flowers, sand, dry fruits, grains, food items, fried modaks, paper cups, rudraksha beads, walnut shells and tulsi garlands.The mandal also celebrates Ganeshotsav without fireworks or DJ sound music. Its eco-friendly initiatives over the years have made its celebrations in the city distinct.Mandal’s executive committee chairman Narayan Bhosale said: “We maintained a tradition of innovation and eco-friendly celebrations. This year too, an eco-friendly Ganesh idol has been created using 18,102 arecanuts. The intricate work of fixing the arecanuts on the shadu clay idol has been carried out entirely by the mandal’s volunteers. Ours is the lone Ganeshotsav mandal in Belagavi that celebrates the festival without firecrackers and DJs.“
