"Everyone should make it a point not to spoil the environment in which we are living. We owe this to our next generation… Seeing the (remains of Ganesh) idols post immersion is horrifying,” 36-year-old human resources manager with the Essar Group Arine Elavia told Parsiana on September 20, 2018 at the peak of the Ganesh festival. Each year, after the immersion of idols in the seas and water bodies around the city, newspapers report on the pollution and destruction of marine life from the plaster of Paris models. "After learning about Tree Ganesha, I was…excited about the idea… we can actually help the environment become better by planting a tree,” she noted.
Celebrating Ganapati (l) Arine and Arjasp Elavia with Zenia Bhansali and
(r) Sheroo and Kaiwan Bhansali, Nilufer Elavia; inset: eco friendly idol
A Tree Ganesha idol has to be placed in a tub of water for the immersion. "Since the idol is made of red soil used for growing plants, it melts overnight. The next day one can pot any plant (in the soil),” Elavia told The Free Press Journal (FPJ) of September 17. The evening after the immersion Elavia, with her parents Nilufer and Arjasp planted a neem tree in Captain Colony where they reside. The report noted that the 12-inch Tree Ganesha costs Rs 3,000 and is sold at markets in Lower Parel. Fertilizers and seeds are also included in the price. Last year Elavia grew an okra plant after performing the immersion. The FPJ reported that "even if the Tree Ganesha is immersed in the sea, it is not harmful for any sea creatures.”
"I have immense faith in Lord (Ganesha)… I have always cherished this festival. Also it marks the beginning of all the festivals in India… I believe that I get solutions to my problems when I talk to the Lord… In 2010, after my divorce I had lost my self confidence. This was one of the bad phases of my life and as usual turned to the Lord to help me in this. Things started changing in my favor and that is when I had decided to bring the Lord (to) my place on Ganesh Chathurthi for three years.... Now after eight years of celebrating the Lord’s entry to my house I feel incomplete without this (celebration),” Elavia told Parsiana.