# Ancient Traditions Go Eco Ganpati Idols Made of Recycled Newspaper By Sarvasva Designs | Published 2008-09-15 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ganpati-idols-made-from-recycled-newspapers References: [trendhunter](http://www.trendhunter.com) The **Ganesh Festival** in India is 10 days of dedicated celebration of the Elephant God. People bring home elephant-shaped Ganpati idols made of different materials, especially Plaster of Paris, and when the festival is over, they submerge these idols in [natural bodies of water](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sungai-carafe). Since most of the idols are not bio-degradable, they cause a lot of harm to the water bodies. **The Eco Innovation** Since we moved to Pune, we’ve installed a permanent **Ganpati idol** at home, and every year we make a small idol that we pray to and submerge in a bucket outside the door. Being environmentally conscious, our Ganpati idols have always been ‘green’ and made of clay and wheat flour. This year, we consciously decided to use old newspapers and make a recycled Ganpati. The only thing used in this Ganpati idol, apart from the newspapers and a little bit of water, is glue to append the various parts. This Ganpati is made with all the main elements the God has - trunk, ears, hands (one blessing and the other holding the sweet), the crown, the sweet (modak), the snake, the sacred threads, a seat and also the mouse (the God’s vehicle). We have made a small army of Ganpatis using the same of process of [recycling newspapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yonhap), and have given them out as gifts to people visiting our home and office. This is to promote the idea of recycling with a simple idea for a [major festival](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diwali-bath-product). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.1/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Eco-friendly Ganesh Festival:** Creating eco-friendly Ganpati idols using recycled materials to reduce harm to natural bodies of water. - **Green Innovation:** Using old newspapers to promote the idea of recycling for major festivals in India. - **Sustainable Celebration:** Alternatives to traditional Plaster of Paris idols for Ganesh Festival to support sustainable practices. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Eco-friendly Products/services:** Developing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional products in the market, such as biodegradable idols, to reduce environmental harm. - **Recycling Industry:** Partnering with festivals and events to promote and encourage recycling practices for waste management and environmental conservation. - **Green Packaging Industry:** Creating sustainable packaging materials for eco-friendly products that cater to the demand for environmentally conscious products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Diwali Table Decor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/homegoods-diwali-collection.md) - [Plastic Bottle-Made Christmas Trees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caroline-chaptini.md) - [Balanced Ritual Design Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bindu-project.md) - [Festive Eco-Friendly Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/earthytweens.md) - [Festive Bamboo Tissues Papers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stackatree.md) - [Elevated River-Accomodating Temples](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ganga-leheri-temple.md) - [Biodegradable Holiday Decor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christmas-decor-collection.md) - [Sculptural Artisanal Christmas Trees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mirrors-of-hope.md) - [Ceramic Waste Carafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sungai-carafe.md)