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HJS’ Ganeshotsav Campaign : Preventing Malpractices, Protecting Dharma

Ganeshotsav is a festival celebrated with much pomp and zeal. While families have celebrated Ganeshotsav at home for ages, public Ganeshotsav celebrations have an interesting connection with India’s freedom struggle. The doyen of ‘Swarajya’, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, is credited with popularising public worship of Shri Ganesh on Ganesh Chaturthi. Tilak used it to gather public support for the freedom struggle, and more importantly, to obtain the spiritual strength that this movement required.

However, numerous malpractices have become attached to Ganeshotsav in the decades since Independence. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) is striving to eradicate these malpractices. HJS continues to organise awareness campaigns and encourage Ganeshotsav Mandals to celebrate Ganeshotsav in a spiritual manner. Public Ganeshotsav was instrumental in obtaining ‘Swarajya’ (Self Rule), and now it is our time to convert this ‘Swarajya’ to ‘Surajya’. Here is some relevant information which will help in understanding the nature of malpractices.

Anti-Ganeshotsav Propaganda

Papier-mâché (Paper pulp Idols)

CLAIM : Paper pulp Idols are eco-friendly

FACTS :

  • The NGT (National Green Tribunal) says such Idols cause pollution and harm the environment
  • Paper pulp absorbs oxygen from water and emits methane gas which is harmful to living beings
  • Lignin compounds in the paper increase the biological oxygen demand which is detrimental to aquatic life

Don’t use paper pulp Ganesh Idols, they are harmful !

Alternative ways of immersing Idols

CLAIM : Some NGOs and environmentalists claim that immersing Shri Ganesh Idols in rivers causes water pollution and advocate the following alternatives to Idol immersion –

  • Immersing Idols in portable artificial tanks
  • Donating Idols to these NGOs or Government
  • Dissolving in ammonium bicarbonate

FACTS :

  • Ganesh Idols are are taken out from the artificial tanks and then dumped into rivers
  • Immersion has spiritual benefits, which are lost when the Idol is dissolved in chemicals
  • Donating or accepting a Deity’s Idol is a grave insult to Deities, because humans do not have the capability to give or accept Deities in donation

Immerse the Idol in flowing water as per Dharmashastras !

HJS conducts campaigns to preserve the sanctity of Ganeshotsav in the following manner :

  • Awareness among Ganesh Idol makers and Ganeshotsav Mandals to produce clay Idols
  • Lectures & special discussions to create public awareness about ideal Ganeshotsav
  • Posters, exhibitions, distribution of pamphlets with spiritual and scriptural information
  • HJS has been at the forefront of the fight to bring a ban on PoP (Plaster of Paris) Idols since 2002
  • Youth-oriented social media awareness campaigns to counter anti-Hindu propaganda
  • HJS volunteers assist devotees and police administration for peaceful immersion of idols
  • HJS sought NGT and Pollution Control Board reports on so-called eco-friendly Idols
  • HJS volunteers have succeeded in getting people to opt for sattvik immersion methods

(For details : HinduJagruti.org/ganeshotsav)

Public Ganeshotsav was instrumental in obtaining ‘Swarajya’ and now it is time to convert this ‘Swarajya’ to ‘Surajya’ !

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