# Women in Rajasthan's Kelwa hand-craft 21 clay Ganesh idols to spread an eco-friendly message

> Ahead of Ganesh Utsav, women in Rajsamand's Kelwa town hand-crafted 21 clay Ganesh idols and pledged to celebrate an eco-friendly festival this year.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-08 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/rajsamand-ke-kelwa-men-mahilaon-ne-hathon-se-garhin-21-mitti-ki-ganesh-pratimaen-diya-prakriti-bachane-ka-sndesha-29585 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Rajsamand, Kelwa, Ganesh Utsav, Clay Ganesh idols, Environmental protection, Eco-friendly Ganesh, Meena Rajak

In Kelwa town of Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, a quiet environmental movement unfolded just days before Ganesh Utsav, as local women sat down together and shaped Ganesh idols entirely by hand out of pure natural clay. The event was organised under the Swachh Kelwa, Harit Kelwa initiative at the Neelkanth Mahadev temple and the Rampol Darwaza premises, where a special programme titled Aao Mitti Ke Ganpati Banayein was held. The gathering was not just a religious celebration, it carried a strong message about protecting the environment.

## 21 idols shaped without a mould or a single chemical
Women from Kelwa turned up in large numbers and joined in with visible enthusiasm. Amid the traditional festive mood, they used their skill and craft to hand-mould around 21 charming Ganesh idols. What stood out was that none of the idols were made using a mould or any chemical material of any kind. Each figure was shaped with devotion and complete focus, and the faith and artistry of the women were clearly visible in every piece. The creative activity filled the entire temple premises with a devotional, festive atmosphere.

## How POP and chemical colours threaten water bodies
Meena Rajak, the programme's coordinator, explained the purpose behind the initiative to those present. She said that Ganesh idols sold in the market, made from Plaster of Paris or POP and toxic chemical colours, cause serious damage to water bodies and the environment. According to her, when such idols are immersed in water during visarjan, the harmful elements dissolve into it and contaminate it, which directly affects aquatic life as well as human health. Idols made of pure clay, by contrast, dissolve easily in water after immersion and cause no pollution at all. This, she said, makes clay Ganesh idols the safest option from an environmental point of view.

## A message of protecting nature alongside faith
Through the programme, the organisers tried to convey that faith and the protection of nature can go hand in hand. They said Ganesh Utsav is an important part of local culture, but celebrating it with grandeur does not require causing harm to nature. Those present were also told that everyone carries certain moral responsibilities towards the environment, and that only by fulfilling them can a clean and safe earth be handed down to the coming generations. The organisers stressed that even small steps, taken together, can bring about a large change.

## A pledge to celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Utsav
At the end of the programme, all the participants and the residents present took a collective pledge. They resolved to celebrate Ganesh Utsav this year in a completely eco-friendly manner. They also pledged to inspire other people in the area to give up chemical idols and adopt clay Ganesh idols instead. The unique initiative in Kelwa town is being widely appreciated across the region, and is being described as an inspiring step towards spreading environmental awareness.

## What this means for you
This initiative offers ordinary readers a practical way to make Ganesh Utsav a little more eco-friendly.

- **Across India:** Choosing clay idols over POP and chemical-colour idols can help keep rivers, ponds and lakes from being contaminated. Families who buy an idol every year can make a direct difference this year simply by picking a clay, chemical-free one.
- **In Rajsamand and Kelwa:** Local water bodies in towns like Kelwa are directly affected by immersion, so residents joining this drive can help keep local water quality better protected. Anyone wanting to learn idol-making can look out for similar sessions held at places like the Neelkanth Mahadev temple premises, free of cost.
- **For children and families:** Making a clay Ganesh idol at home can teach children craft skills alongside a sense of environmental responsibility, a habit that can easily be passed on to the next generation.
- **Health effects:** Contact with water contaminated by chemical colours can cause skin and health problems, so choosing a clay idol is also directly linked to protecting a family's health.

## Why this happened
The programme was organised because idols made of POP and chemical colours sold in the market have, year after year, damaged water bodies during Ganesh Utsav, and the organisers chose to tackle this by directly teaching people to make clay idols themselves.

- **Direct cause:** According to coordinator Meena Rajak, POP and toxic chemical-colour idols dissolve into water during immersion and contaminate it, putting aquatic life and human health at risk.
- **Background:** The Swachh Kelwa, Harit Kelwa initiative has already been working on environmental issues in Kelwa, and this special programme was held under the same drive ahead of Ganesh Utsav.
- **Purpose:** The organisers wanted people to learn how to celebrate the festival without harming nature, while still keeping their faith and traditions intact.
- **What's next:** Those present at the programme have pledged to celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Utsav this year and to inspire others to adopt clay idols too.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When and where was this programme held in Kelwa?
The programme was held just before Ganesh Utsav at the Neelkanth Mahadev temple and Rampol Darwaza premises in Kelwa town, Rajsamand district.

### 2. How many Ganesh idols were made during the programme?
Women hand-crafted around 21 clay Ganesh idols.

### 3. Under which initiative was this event organised?
It was held under the Swachh Kelwa, Harit Kelwa initiative as the Aao Mitti Ke Ganpati Banayein programme.

### 4. What was NOT used in making the idols?
The idols were made entirely by hand from pure natural clay, without using any mould or chemical material.

### 5. Who coordinated the programme?
The programme was coordinated by Meena Rajak.

### 6. How do POP and chemical-colour idols harm the environment?
During immersion, the harmful elements in such idols dissolve into the water and contaminate it, affecting aquatic life and human health.

### 7. What pledge did people take at the end of the event?
They pledged to celebrate a completely eco-friendly Ganesh Utsav this year and to inspire others to adopt clay idols too.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The initiative by Kelwa's women shows how even a small, local step can bring about a larger change.

- **The power of collective action:** Instead of merely complaining, the women came together and made the idols themselves, offering a working solution.
- **Putting a skill to purpose:** They channelled their craft and hand skills towards protecting the environment, allowing tradition and responsibility to be honoured together.
- **Awareness before action:** Meena Rajak first explained the harm caused by POP, then gave people a hands-on chance to try the alternative themselves, a model of effective awareness-building.
- **Turning a pledge into action:** The programme did not stop at discussion; participants made a concrete commitment to keep inspiring others going forward.

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