Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on Monday, a team of 30 prisoners of Yerwada Central Jail was seen playing drums for a procession welcoming Lord Ganesha to Guruji Talim Mandal in Pune, Maharashtra, according to ANI. Visuals show the men dressed in a white kurta-pajama and sporting bright saffron turbans. They were seen playing the drums enthusiastically as police officials looked on. Ganesh Chathurthi is widely celebrated in Pune with many Ganpathi pandals installed throughout the city.

Ganesha idol made of 9000 coconuts, Bengaluru temple goes eco-friendly

Prisoners play drums

Visuals also show women dressed in white, sporting white caps playing the drums. The Central Jail's ADG has said that the prisoners were trained for two months to play the drums. He added that the prisoners were enthusiastic about the opportunity. The prisoners seen in the visuals are reportedly from the open jail.

Sudarsan Pattnaik's eye-opening anti-plastics Ganesh Chaturthi art

Sand Ganapathi with plastic

Earlier on Sunday, Sudarsan Pattnaik, the internationally acclaimed sand artist, has created a sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha with 1000 plastic bottles around it at Puri beach in Odisha. The majestic installation was made on the eve of Ganesh Chathurthi in order to send a message against the use of single-use plastic. The sculpture also carries a message that reads "Save our environment" on the left side and "Say no to single-use plastic" on the other. Pattnaik claimed that he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign to ban single-use plastic. Single-use plastic includes plastic bottles, plates, cups, packaged food, and other plastic materials that can only be used once or recycled.

Ganesha idols that grow into plants: A Mangaluru man's innovation

Coconut Ganapathi

In a similarly unique way to showcase Lord Ganesha, a 30-feet tall idol made from 9000 coconuts and has been installed near the Puttengally Ganesha temple, Bengaluru. The idol is eco-friendly and has been shaped over 20 days by over 70 devotees. Interestingly, apart from coconut, more than 20 types of vegetables have been used to make the idol. According to Mohan Raju, a devotee, it is an annual tradition in the temple to make the Ganpati idol out of materials that can be utilized again. Last year's idol was made from sugarcane.  

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