Nashikites have embraced an eco-friendly approach to Ganesh Visarjan this year, with over 2 lakh idols donated at Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) Visarjan centers. To prevent water pollution caused by the immersion of idols, especially Plaster of Paris (POP) idols, NMC set up 29 natural and 56 artificial lakes across the city. The corporation’s awareness drive encouraged citizens to donate their idols instead of immersing them in rivers or lakes, protecting water quality and aquatic life.
As the 10-day Ganeshotsav festival ends, Nashik residents are saying goodbye to their beloved Lord Ganesha with traditional rituals, singing hymns, and the sound of bells. Public Ganesh mandals also carry out processions to the sound of traditional instruments.
The final day saw a strong response to NMC's eco-friendly drive, with 2,01,580 idols collected across the city. The division-wise breakdown is as follows:
1. Panchavati- 80791
2. New Nashik- 24452
3. Nashik Road- 45138
4. Nashik East- 10428
5. Satpur- 29876
6. Nashik West- 10895
Total - 201580
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) successfully collected 174.780 metric tons of Nirmalya (floral waste) from various immersion points across the city during this year's Ganeshotsav celebrations. In addition, 725 kg of ammonium bicarbonate powder was distributed to citizens to encourage environment-friendly immersion practices.
Compared to last year, when 200,253 Ganesha idols and 153.155 metric tons of Nirmalya were collected, this year saw an enthusiastic response from the public towards eco-friendly initiatives. A significant number of residents opted for Shadu clay idols, which are more sustainable, and many chose to immerse these idols at home rather than at public water bodies.
This overwhelming support for eco-friendly Visarjan highlights Nashik’s commitment to protecting the environment while celebrating the beloved festival.