Mysore/Mysuru: A workshop to train school students and public on making environmental friendly clay Ganesha idols has been organised on  Sept. 9 and 10 at Kukkarahalli Lake premises and at the grounds near Lalitha Mahal Palace in city, said Founder-President of Parisara Balaga Parashurame Gowda.

He told media persons at Patrakarthara Bhavana here yesterday that the workshop has been organised by Parisara Balaga in association with Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Karnakata State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Mysuru Regional Office-1 and various other organisations.

In view of Gowri-Ganesha festival on Sept. 18, it has become a practice among the people to install and worship painted and Plaster of Paris (PoP) made idols at home and also in public places. The paints rich in chemicals contain lead, chromium and other hazardous metals. Upon immersion of such idols in lakes and ponds, water will be polluted. ‘We are already suffering from the impact of environmental pollution with rise in temperature level and change in weather pattern. Without adding to the gravity of the situation, we should act responsibly and make efforts to control environmental pollution,’ he appealed.

In this regard, Parisara Balaga has organised the workshop on making clay idols to send a message among people to worship only environmental friendly idols. The workshop will be conducted in three groups in equal number of sessions on Sept. 9 and 10 from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm and on Sept. 10, from 9 am to 12 noon.

 The target is to train at least 200 school students and 50 general public, with 35 to 40 students and 10 to 15 general public in each groups. 

Those attending the workshop can carry home the idols made by them and worship during the festival. The required clay will be provided by the volunteers of Parisara Balaga. Apart from the coordination of MCC for organising the workshop, TVS, JK Tyres and Kluber Lubrication have sponsored the workshop.

Students of Vishwa Pragna, Vidya Jyothi, JSS, Eshwar Vidyalaya and others will participate.