Ganesh Chaturthi: Surat doctor makes eco-friendly Ganesha idol with dry fruits

The 10-day long Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations begun on August 22 prompting users to flaunt their idol-making skills. Amid varied form of the lord was an idol made entirely out of dry fruits. Created by Aditi Mittal, from Surat Gujarat, the ‘Vighnaharta’ idol has been touted to help people overcome difficulties, especially coronavirus.

Mittal, who is also an artist, took to social media to share the photographs of her eco-friendly Ganesha. Along with the photos, she explained that the idol was made out of  511 dry fruits. She that her “Eco-Friendly Ganesha’ will be kept at a COVID-19 hospital for ten days and would later be distributed as prasad in the form of Vighnaharta. Vighnaharta, which mean someone who takes away obstacle, is another name of Lord Ganesha. In addition, she said that it would the dry fruits would also add up to the immunity of the people. 

"I made this idol with dry fruits that have shell & it will be kept at a COVID hospital. After the Puja the dry fruits will be distributed among patients at the hospital," she told ANI. 

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Read: Burhanpur: No Idol Of Lord Ganesh At Tilak Hall This Year

Her idol has been immensely liked by netizens who have showered praises on the media One user wrote, "Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to you and your family. Please continue maintaining social distancing, avoid inviting people home and visiting people’s homes. May our Vighnaharta help us tide over these difficult times Ganpati Bappa Morya!" .Meanwhile, another wrote, "Burai aur atyachar ki khabare hi padna hai kya? Aadat badlo, ankhen kholo aur dil ko saaf karo. Shayad isime hi duniya ki bhalayi hai."

Celebrations begin

Amid the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on public movement, the 10-day Ganesh festival started in Maharashtra and other parts of India on August 22, although the usual pomp and glory was missing this year. The state of Maharashtra, where it is primarily celebrated,  has issued guidelines regarding Ganeshotsav celebrations, saying that processions should not be taken out before installing and immersing the idols of the deity.

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