With the joyous festival of Ganesh Chaturthi right around the corner, housing society residents would have started making arrangements for the celebration of this auspicious festival, which is greeted with much grandeur. Although this festival will be celebrated individually in all houses, arrangements can be made in a housing society to organize a major event centered on the festival.

One of the major tasks involved in planning out this festival is selecting the perfect idol of Lord Ganesh. The residents in a housing society can select a huge idol in order to offer their prayers together as a community, other than the small ones they buy personally.

Here are some simple pointers which housing society residents must keep in mind while selecting an idol.

• Book the Idol in Advance

It isn’t an easy task to shop for idols just a day or two before Ganesh Chaturthi. Booking an idol before hand is extremely important. Most people tend to book their idols on the day of Janmashtami as a reminder or at least 10-15 days before the festival, so ensure that you book your idol way in advance. Did not book it yet? Never mind – its never too late for a good thing. Read the rest of the article and book the idol right away!

• Buy Only Clay or Mud Idols

The housing society management must ensure that the idols that their residents buy are made up of biodegradable clay, which easily dissolves when immersed into the sea.

More often than not, Plaster of Paris and other toxic chemicals are used to make the idols, which can have adverse effects on the marine ecosystem. In order to maintain a green housing society, this rule must be enforced.

• Choose the Right Size

Ganesh idols are available in an array of sizes and this makes it difficult to choose the ideal one. Since the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations held at a housing society would normally cater to a large number of people, it would be practical to choose an idol which is approximately 10-15 feet high.

Smaller idols can be chosen for personal purposes in every home. The main idol should be properly transported into the housing society, though, without any damages.

• Choose a Seated Idol

This is an extremely important tip that the management should note while choosing a Ganesh idol. When a standing idol is installed in a particular place over a period of 10 days, there is a high chance that cracking may occur due to the heavy weight borne. For this reason, it’s more practical to choose a seated idol.

• Opt for Natural Colors

For environmental reasons, the housing society management should opt for and promote Ganesh idols that are not painted with toxic paints and dyes. Instead, natural coloring substances such as turmeric and vermillion can be used to give the idol some color.

• Purchase the Decorative Items

The housing society management must remember to purchase decoration material for the idol in advance. In order to save money, the decorations can be purchased from a wholesaler. It is important to purchase the material only after buying the idol, as the size plays a vital role.

Ideally, the materials should be purchased a week before Ganesh Chaturthi. Plastic decorative items should be strictly avoided for use during the celebrations. Instead, cloth, paper and wood items can be used as alternatives in order to avoid environmental hazards during the immersion of the idol.

These are some simple yet vital pointers which housing society residents should keep in mind while selecting an idol for the vibrant festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. These tips will help the management ensure that all residents enjoy the festivities to the fullest, while setting an example of being environmentally conscious citizens.

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