Hyderabad: Promoting the use of natural materials, the 72-foot Sri Ashta Siddhi Maha Ganapati idol at Nagole has emerged as a major attraction for devotees in the city. The organisers said the season’s tallest idol was made from eco-friendly materials to promote the message of environmental conservation. Devotees have also been thronging the pandal to attend the Ganga aarti every evening.
Sai Mudiraj, one of the organisers, said five priests from Varanasi had been invited to perform the 25-minute aarti using water brought from the Ganga.
Local artisan Kothakonda Nagesh said bamboo and straw were used to build the frame, while 25 artists from West Bengal worked day and night on the clay idol. He claimed it was probably the tallest seated eco-friendly Ganesh idol in India.
The organisers said the idol would be immersed at the pandal itself. Panchamrutam would first be sprinkled on it, following which water from fire tenders would be used to dissolve the clay. The remaining clay would be distributed among devotees for use in flower pots and gardens.
Two laddus will also be offered this year. An 11-kg laddu will be awarded through a lucky draw based on raffle-ticket sales, while a 72-kg laddu will be auctioned. Last year’s laddu fetched Rs 4.5 lakh.
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